KIWI TRIATHLETES BAG SIX MEDALS AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

New Zealand triathletes grabbed six medals on the first day of the world 
championships here in Edmonton, Canada today.

The Kiwi age-group and junior elite triathletes won four silver and two
bronze medals, along with fourth placings.

The championships attracted 1500 competitors, with racing starting at 6.30am
this morning and finishing in cool and rainy conditions with the junior
elite females at 7.15pm.

The highlight comes with the elite women’s and men’s races tomorrow.

Hamilton’s Bob Goddard won his seventh world championship medal from nine
appearances with silver in the 65-69 years class, while Kumeu’s Tiare Lund,
in her 11th outing at the worlds, also earned silver in the women’s 55-59
years division.

The other silver medals went to Taupo’s Anna Tyler (35-39 years) and
Whangarei’s Samanatha Warriner (25-29 years).

Tyler, who won her age group in Perth last year, was bettered on a tough
bike course by American Donna Kay-Ness, and while the Kiwi produced the best
run time, she could not peg back the deficit, clocking.12.33.

Warriner produced an outstanding performance in her first world
championships to finish only 10 seconds behind Wellington’s Megan Hall, who
has switched allegiances to South Africa in an attempt to qualify for the
elite team for next year’s Commonwealth Games after missing selection for
New Zealand.

The Northlander trailed Hall by a minute out of the water, pegged back half
the deficit on the bike and fought hard to claw back the margin on the run,
finishing 50 metres behind.

Auckland’s Josie Sinclair produced her best performance at a world
championships to gain bronze in a competitive 40-44 years age group, with
the best bike-run split, finishing ahead of team-mate Cindy Taylor (Te Puke)
and American Donny Smyers, well regarded sister of former world champion
Karen Smyers.

The remaining medal fell to another Whangarei competitor Adie Ngawati, who
placed third in the women’s 20-24 years age group, making a successful
return to triathlon.

Ngawati, who wants to concentrate on longer distances, was a former top-10
finisher as a junior in the 1996 world championships in Cleveland.

There were some close efforts, with New Plymouth’s Clark Ellice a minute off
a medal in the 16-19 years division, Christchurch’s Alison McQueen 30
seconds off bronze in the 50-54 years class while Auckland’s Lyn Pattle was
only 17 seconds from a podium place in the 45-49 years class.

A influenza virus took its toll on the Kiwi team, with one competitor
withdrawing yesterday and two others, Auckland junior’s Kieran Doe and
Brooke Pattle, pulling out after the swim.

It was a bitter blow for national champion Doe, who was expected to be a
real prospect for a medal in his final year in the junior elite division.
Expected to be first out of the water, Doe trailled a minute behind and
withdrew soon after.

The main hope for the Kiwis fell on the shoulders of 16-year-old Terenzo
Bozzone (Auckland), who had won the Oceania title earlier this year after
working with Doe on the swim and bike.

He finished a creditable 13th place in 1.53.29, two minutes behind winner
Sebastian Dehmer (Germany). The South African born Kiwi fell a minute behind
out of the water,caught the main pack after one lap on the bike but showed
inexperience in working to the front to ride down several breaks.

This took its toll on the run as Bozzone dropped well behind before
recovering for his 13th place. With three years eligibility remaining in
this age group, Bozzone has potential to reach the top.

Hamilton’s Graham O’Grady finished 34th, while Auckland’s Debbie Tanner and
Kirsty Whiting finished 20th and 26th respectively in the elite junior
girls, raced in difficult conditions after heavy rain delayed the start.
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World triathlon championships – New Zealand results

Results of New Zealand age-group and junior elite competitors at ITU World
Triathlon Championships in Edmonton; Canada today (all Auckland unless
stated; time and age-group place):

Elite junior: Terenzo Bozzone 1.53.29; 13; Graham O’Grady (Hamilton)
1.57.22, 34; Kieran Doe (Feilding) dnf; Debbie Tanner 2.08.32, 19; Kirsty
Whiting 2.13.42, 26.

16-19 years: Clark Ellice (New Plymouth) 2.00.16, 4; Greg Weatherall
(Brisbane) 2.03.25, 7; James Elvery 2.03.42, 9; Scott Larsen 2.05.28, 14;
Oliver Tompkins 2.05.38, 15; Andrew Doreen 2.11.05, 29; Jennifer Cooper
2.24.27, 10; Brooke Pattle dnf; Catherine Wall (Christchurch) 2.24.57, 11.

20-24 years: Daniel Clout (Palmerston North) 2.15.58, 59; Adie Ngawati
(Whangarei) 2.10.30, 3.

25-29 years: Paul Angland 2.01.26, 9; Thomas Farr 2.10.06, 45; Robin
Cameron-Jones (Upper Hutt) 2.27.45, 65; Samantha Warriner (Whangarei)
2.08.20, 2.

30-34 years: Ian Paulin (Dunedin) 2.03.40, 13; Mark Cornaga (Wanganui)
2.20.20, 50.

35-39 years: Murray Doughty (Upper Hutt) 2.10.03, 31; Mike Candy (Taupo)
2.11.15, 37; Anna Tyler (Taupo) 2.12.33, 2.

40-44 years: Josie Sinclair 2.19.30, 3; Cindy Taylor (Te Puke) 2.20.18, 5.

45-49 years: Shorty Clark (New Plymouth) 2.18.36, 24; Richard Justice
2.18.40, 25Lynne Pattle 2.24.05, 4; Nola Smitheram (Ashburton) 2.28.26, 10;
Julie Rooney (Ashburton) 2.28.55, 11; Lee Dawe (Tauranga) dnf;.

50-54 years: Brian Woodcock (Wellington) 2.19.49, 22; Owen Cleverton
(Napier) 2.29.53, 42; Bob Loan (Napier) 2.35.37, 48; Paul Smith (Wellington)
2.43.28, 50; Alison McQueen (Christchurch) 2.31.40, 4; Shirley Rolston
(Christchurch) 2.57.08, 30.

55-59 years: Peter Waterhouse 2.46.31, 39; Tiare Lund (Kumeu) 2.36.18, 2.

65-59 years: Bob Goddard (Hamilton) 2.29.17, 2; Garth Barfoot 2.40.56, 7;
Ian Robinson (Waihi Beach) 2.47.33, 11; Joe McCallum 2.55.18, 19; Alec Hill
2.56.23, 21; Anthony Sepie (Christchurch) 3.02.41, 22;