TRIATHLON - Northland pair's early pace sends message of intent

THE result wasn't quite what they aimed for, but the sight of two Northlanders leading the field at the midway stage of the ITU world cup triathlon race in New Plymouth yesterday has sparked the Olympic imagination.
Northlanders Sam Warriner and Nicki Samuels (left) finished eighth and seventh respectively in the world cup race yesterday, Samuels making a bold statement to the Olympic selectors after she was overlooked for a start at Beijing.
But while unable to get on the podium, the mere fact that Samuels and Warriner were dictating the pace of the race on the cycle leg will be a huge boost to Warriner's Olympic aspirations and Samuels' reputation.
For the first time in more than 18 months Warriner, the world No.3, emerged with the lead pack in the opening swim leg. Now she has plans to use her new found swim speed as a springboard to challenge her main Olympic rivals in Beijing in August.
Warriner's two main rivals, Australian Emma Snowsill and Vanessa Hernandez of Portugal, were not racing in New Plymouth. But by emerging from the swim leg alongside some of the best swimmers on the women's circuit, Warriner is now piecing together her Olympic plan.
Even so, the competitor within meant she she was initially a bit disappointed with her effort yesterday. She wanted a podium finish in front of Kiwi fans in New Plymouth.
"I had a great swim, which was my only real goal, so that was good," Warriner said. "But I just didn't have the leg speed on the run when I needed it and the bike was messy. I am pleased but at the same time a bit frustrated.
"To finish in the top 10 in my first world cup race of the season I am pleased, but the run was hard work and reflected where I am in my training I suppose."
While Warriner was berating herself for slipping from the pace, her coach Murray Healey was ecstatic that efforts to improve her swim technique by employing surf lifesaving champion Corey Hutchings as an adviser had paid dividends.
"To get out of the water in sixth place, right on the heels of some of the best swimmers in the sport, was an amazing feat really. It proves that what we have been working on, is working," Healey said.
"The run was a bit difficult, but Sam came through in the latter stages looking good and started closing the gap on the leaders.
"The focus is on one race this season, and this isn't it. We haven't even started working on running off the bike yet."
Healey said Warriner and Samuels had worked together in the bike leg before Samuels surged away just before the transition onto the run. Samuels' effort was quite inspiring, he said.
Australian Emma Moffatt, the world No.2, won the women's race and asserted herself as the front runner for a spot on the highly competitive Australian Olympic team.
Just six seconds behind for the silver was Swede Lisa Norden who is enjoying a spectacular start to 2008 after taking bronze last week in Mooloolaba. It's not only a breakthrough for Norden but also for the Team BG Elite Athlete Development Programme. Moffatt's teammate and fellow Aussie Olympic hopeful Felicity Abram took the bronze for her first career world cup podium finish.
The men's race was won by Spaniard Javier Gomez, with the best-placed Kiwi Kris Gemmell a minute behind in fourth. Kiwi favourite Bevan Docherty was forced out of the race in the swim leg.