Kiwi Women Off Pace in Iowa

18th June 2007 – For immediate release

Kiwi Women Off Pace in Iowa

New Zealand triathletes Sam Warriner and Debbie Tanner did not feature amongst the leaders at the latest round of the BG World Cup series in Des Moines Iowa, but by simply finishing achieved something many others failed to do in oppressive conditions.

The writing was on the wall in an aggresive race when both Warriner and Tanner exited the water over a minute behind the lead bunch, it was to be a deficit they could not make up on the bike or run legs.

The race and the richest ever US$200,000 World Cup first prize was won by Laura Bennett after the American broke away with 18 year old Canadian Kirsten Sweetland and Australian Annabel Luxford on the run to compete side by side for most of the 10km distance.

The effort told in dramatic fashion on the teenage Canadian in just her sixth World Cup event. After racing at the head of the race for 2 hours, she fought near total collapse in the final few hundred metres and could not make it across the finish line in the 36 degree heat.

Tanner eventually came home in ninth place after a solid run saw her gradually pick off a number of athletes in tough, windy, hot and humid conditions that left many of the world’s elite triathletes withdrawing in distress.

“Today was really all about survival in some of the toughest conditions I have experienced,” said Tanner from the ‘comfort’ of an ice bath post race.

“It was obvious early on in the bike that this was going to be a battle of attrition. We worked really hard on the bike and caught the chase group but couldn’t close the gap on the leaders. On the run there were girls blowing up everywhere so for me it was a case of maintaining composure and slowly picking off as many places as I could. This was a tough day at the office for all of us, but that is the nature of our sport. We have to cope with contrasting conditions week to week and today was hot, humid and windy thrown into one.”

Warriner battled well through a difficult day to finish in 12th and the consolation of at least picking up a share of the US$700,000 prize purse but was never in contention on the run and like Tanner, was concerned about finishing in reasonable physical shape.

“I felt pretty good in the swim and the bike but simply didn’t have it on the run today in sweltering conditions. There are no excuses, I just didn’t have the leg speed today after probably doing too much work on the bike to catch the chasing group but by the same token you can’t sit back and let the leaders ride away from you.”

“Conditions were brutal though, the finish line is a little like a hospital scene with girls on drips and being attended to. I enjoyed it though and gave it 100% throughout.”

The other Kiwi in the field Evelyn Williamson struggled throughout the day, eventually finishing well down in 22nd position.

ITU World Cup, R7, Des Moines Iowa
Elite Women Results

Pos Name Country Time Diff.
1 L. Bennett USA 2:04:32 00:00
2 A. Luxford AUS 2:04:46 00:14
3 M. Ohata BRA 2:05:29 00:57
4 S. Haskins USA 2:05:47 01:15
5 A. Whitcombe GBR 2:05:51 01:19
6 J. Harrison FRA 2:05:55 01:23
7 K. Niwata JPN 2:06:13 01:41
8 E. Moffatt AUS 2:06:26 01:54
9 D. Tanner NZL 2:06:48 02:16
10 M. Dillon GBR 2:07:22 02:50
Plus NZers
12 S. Warriner NZL 2:08:00 03:28
22 E Williamson NZL 2:18:14 13:42

ENDS

Full results and information can be found at www.triathlon.org

The elite men’s race will conclude at approximately 11.30am NZT. Live coverage at www.triathlon.org with results and information on the New Zealand athletes posted this afternoon on press release

© Scoop Media