Australian-turned-Kiwi Rina Hill capped off her preparations for this
weekend’s world triathlon championships when she finishes second for the
world Aquathon title here in Edmonton, Canada today.

Hill, the former run-swim-run world champion, produced a strong performance
to finish second to in-form American Siri Lindley to lead the New Zealand
performances.

Auckland’s Nathan Richmond also showed out strongly to finish fifth in the
men’s race while defending champion Matt Reed withdrew on the second run
after the effects of his long flight from Europe yesterday.

The 2km run 750m swim 2km run event was staged on part of the circuit for
this weekend’s world championship.

Richmond, who raced strongly in the Toronto World Cup two weeks ago, was in
the lead bunch of five off the run and closed in to third out of the water
behind Englishman Richard Stannard and Australian Luke Harrop.

Reed showed outstanding swim skills to overcome a 20 seconds deficit off the
run to come out fourth before pulling out as a precautionary measure on the
final run.

Spain’s Ivan Rana streaked through from 20 seconds down out of the water to
win in 23.08, two seconds ahead of Stannard while Richmond held on, passing
Harrop for fifth 14 seconds behind the winner.

Hill, who raced as a test after a virus laid her low last week, was always
prominent, second after the first run, retaining her spot on the swim behind
former Olympic swimming gold medallist Sheila Taormina.

Lindley, who has trained in New Zealand and was formerly coached by Kiwi
Jack Ralston, hit the lead again on the run home with Hill also passing
Taormina for second, 14 seconds behind the winner.

The remainder of the New Zealand elite team arrived in Edmonton today from
their training base in Calgary, the centre for a number of Canadian national
sports.

Three New Zealanders (Hill, Evelyn Williamson and Heather Evans) are
included in the 58-strong elite women’s field for Monday’s (NZ time) world
championships.

The elite men’s field, including Kiwis Hamish Carter, Craig Watson, Matt
Reed, Kris Gemmell, Bevan Docherty and Nathan Richmond, totals 77
competitors.