More Podiums For NZers At World Champs But Weather Wins the Day

The Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver were thrown into turmoil this morning with high winds and cold temperatures forcing organizers to cancel the swim leg for most of the age group races, turning the event into a duathlon.

The fortunate ones were the women aged 18 to 49 who got to complete a full triathlon with the swim included. But at around the time the 30 to 34 women’s wave was starting the weather changed. High winds came up, the sea got choppy and officials were struggling to keep athletes on course.

Racing continued for about another half an hour with the 45 to 49 years women being the last group to swim before officials halted proceedings. Athletes were commenting on how tough it was to stay on course and above water.

Officials delayed racing for about an hour, hoping for an improvement. But the weather did not play its part. Lifeguards couldn’t stay out, boats were swamped and no guards on the water meant no swimming.

At this point officials came in to the athlete lounge area and advised of change to duathlon for everyone from 50 years women up and all men races. The duathlon involved a 3km run instead of the swim, then the normal bike and run course as planned.

New Zealand team manager Claire Attwood said it was a tough day and a long way to come for a duathlon.

“It was not quite as cold as yesterday and eventually sun came out, but high winds caused havoc and the officials really had no choice. Most of our team are seeing the funny side of a pretty tough situation. Some of them have never done a duathlon in their lives and they train and save to come all the way to Vancouver to race their first one!

“Once again though the athletes have done us proud in the way they have handled conditions and the change to the racing programme. We have enjoyed some great results in very tough conditions and all our athletes have represented Tri NZ and the country with distinction.”

Highlights on a tough day included gold and silver for Lynne Pattle and Julie Wagner in the women’s 55 to 59 race, gold for Peter Wood in the 65 to 69 men and podium finishes for John Hellemens 55 to 59 men, Alec Hill 75 to 79 men, Michael Gowing 50 to 54 men.

World Triathlon Championships, Vancouver
Age Group Olympic Distance
NZ Results (provisional results at this stage)
*denotes duathlon

18 – 19 Women
2207Tracey STEENSNew Zealand2:07:33.86+3:43.44
9208Anna FUHRERNew Zealand2:25:57.76+22:07.34

20 to24 Women
6277Hayley ANDERSONNew Zealand2:08:07.54+11:21.46
14276Nicola GRAYNew Zealand2:11:02.94+14:16.86
26237Laura SMITNew Zealand2:16:17.43+19:31.35
50235Alexandria GIBSONNew Zealand2:24:51.68+28:05.60

25 to 29 Women
4338Naomi FERGUSSONNew Zealand2:04:13.50+3:58.90
35352Kerri NEYLONNew Zealand2:14:02.67+13:48.07
38362Erin O'HARANew Zealand2:14:17.38+14:02.78
40370Fiona EAGLESNew Zealand2:14:36.59+14:21.99
53368Annabel RAMSAYNew Zealand2:16:36.34+16:21.74
65325Nicola DE LAUTOURNew Zealand2:22:17.99+22:03.39
70346Phillippa JENSENNew Zealand2:23:37.69+23:23.09

30 to 34 Women
4450Janine SAXNew Zealand2:06:32.07+8:40.41
11484Jacinda PAPPSNew Zealand2:09:25.10+11:33.44
17432Kelley TOYNew Zealand2:11:46.72+13:55.06
21464Heather PEALNew Zealand2:13:03.39+15:11.73
42463Laurance GAYNew Zealand2:20:05.28+22:13.62
76446Lidia BELLES-ESCRIGNew Zealand2:34:55.92+37:04.26

*30 to 34 Men
241858Donald PATTERSONNew Zealand1:45:01.30+13:13.78
421848Philip KINGNew Zealand1:48:54.67+17:07.15

35 to 39 Women
16542Jane FOXNew Zealand2:15:19.71+19:03.76
33568Sharon SPROULENew Zealand2:21:25.65+25:09.70
36551Philippa PARKINNew Zealand2:22:07.05+25:51.10
47576Tamsin GALLIENew Zealand2:26:09.34+29:53.39
61563Kathrine HILTONNew Zealand2:31:29.76+35:13.81

*35 to 39 Men
161971Greg O'CONNORNew Zealand1:45:07.21+7:06.38
181914Andrew ABAKHANNew Zealand1:45:25.90+7:25.07
321953Matthew BERGNew Zealand1:47:54.13+9:53.30
741955Warren ANDERSONNew Zealand1:58:22.53+20:21.70
821981Craig MOORENew Zealand2:00:26.44+22:25.61

40 to 44 Women
36634Karen BLACKWOODNew Zealand2:27:20.31+19:23.27
48652Jane LOUGHNANNew Zealand2:32:26.68+24:29.64
50607Jane HEATHER-SCLATERNew Zealand2:34:12.48+26:15.44
60645Lisa KABOTNew Zealand2:43:19.37+35:22.33
62640Amy WHITENew Zealand2:46:05.41+38:08.37

*40 to 44 Men
312020Steve DEANNew Zealand1:51:23.29+18:19.08
412003Mike WRENNew Zealand1:53:02.04+19:57.83
642070James BELLNew Zealand1:57:32.16+24:27.95
652101Stephen COLPITTSNew Zealand1:57:34.39+24:30.18
66656Robert JORDANNew Zealand1:58:24.25+25:20.04
672048Roger SLATERNew Zealand1:59:16.31+26:12.10
852081Nicholas VAUGHANNew Zealand2:09:22.44+36:18.23

45 to 49 Women
13771Josie SINCLAIRNew Zealand2:18:07.24+14:27.87
24734Libby HENRIKSENNew Zealand2:23:37.80+19:58.43
35765Ann ROBOTTOMNew Zealand2:29:57.89+26:18.52
46766Christine FRASERNew Zealand2:37:55.43+34:16.06

*45 to 49 Men
322225Stephen MEALINGSNew Zealand1:52:18.23+10:03.76