Tanner Eleventh in Final Edmonton World Cup Race

25th June 2007 – For immediate release

Tanner Eleventh in Final Edmonton World Cup Race

Missing the vital lead group coming out of the water proved costly to New Zealander Debbie Tanner’s hopes of a podium finish in the International Triathlon Union BG World Cup race in Edmonton this morning, the world number six eventually finishing eleventh.

Tanner is renowned as one of the leading runners in the sport but found herself two and a half minutes down on the leaders off the bike after good work by a lead group of seven saw them build on their lead of one minute out of the water.

That was not surprising given the quality of athletes in that lead bunch with multiple World Cup winner Annabel Luxford (AUS), age group star Emma Moffat (AUS) and local teenage sensation Kirsten Sweetland (CAN) setting a blistering pace.

Moffat went on to defeat Sweetland in a sprint finish, dashing the hopes of the locals hoping for a Canadian win in the final Edmonton World Cup race before the event heads to a new location from next year.

Despite a disappointing race by her own high standards, Tanner will still pick up valuable ranking points to consolidate her place inside the top ten on the ITU world rankings.

Evelyn Williamson - the only other Kiwi in the race, couldn’t stay with the early pace on her return to elite racing, finishing in 27th place after trailing the leaders by almost two minutes after the 1500m swim.

Williamson is however by her own admission ‘rusty and under raced’ as she focuses on European races on the BG World Cup circuit, starting with Austria in a month’s time.

BG World Cup R8, Edmonton, Canada
Elite Women

Rank Name Club/Team/Nation Gross time Diff.
1 Emma MOFFATT Australia 1:57:52
2 Kirsten SWEETLAND Canada 1:57:53 0:00:02
3 Annabel LUXFORD Australia 1:58:10 0:00:19
4 Magali DI MARCO MESSMER Switzerland 1:59:21 0:01:29
5 Sarah GROFF United States 1:59:49 0:01:58
6 Sara MCLARTY United States 2:00:12 0:02:21
7 Julie SWAIL United States 2:00:24 0:02:33
8 Lauren GROVES Canada 2:00:32 0:02:40
9 Kiyomi NIWATA Japan 2:00:40 0:02:49
10 Hongni WANG China 2:01:11 0:03:20
PLUS
11 Debbie TANNER Auckland/New Zealand 2:01:17 0:03:26
27 Evelyn WILLIAMSON Wellington/New Zealand 2:06:26 0:08:35

The elite men’s race is underway with results and comment expected at approximately midday. For live event coverage go to www.triathlon.org

ENDS

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

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