TRIATHLON - Warriner may be short of fitness

Sam Warriner's appearance in tomorrow's Takapuna leg of the national tri-series could be her last competitive event in New Zealand before the beginning of the World Cup series in May.
The Northland triathlete isn't too hopeful of winning, saying the distance is too short for her at this stage of her training but given her recent form in the longer half-ironman races, few would dismiss her presence in the race.
Warriner is still in the middle of her "base training" for the the ITU's revamped World Cup series and is training over much larger distances than she will strike in the Olympic distance triathlon in Takapuna.
With the other top Kiwi triathletes, Debbie Tanner and Andrea Hewitt, confirmed to start and international athletes like Swedish world No7 Lisa Norden and South African Kate Roberts also in the field, Warriner is sure of stiff competition.
"This really is the first test to see how we're all going since last year and although the competitors are mainly from New Zealand it will give us all a good idea of who is doing well," she said.
"We all want to be the best and you've got to beat the girls in your own country before heading overseas and it'll be a good test to see how we're going."
Warriner has made a special effort to compete in the race, despite winning the Geelong half ironman just two weeks ago, as a gesture of appreciation to her new sponsor, the New Zealand Refining Company for signing a new sponsorship deal with her this week.
The company will assist her build-up and racing this year, by paying for her travel and accommodation for the year.
Although Warriner is the number-one ranked triathlete, her funding from SPARC and other agencies has dropped away because this year is not an Olympic or Commonwealth Games year.
She leaves for San Diego on Monday where she will complete her base training and start working toward the Singapore race, under the direction of her coach, two times world champion Siri Lindley.
The race is the first part of new World Cup series that Warriner says will revolutionise the sport.
"This time the media is behind the sport and the events will be covered like Formula One races, with the best athletes turning up for them," she said.
The new "golden" series replaces last year's 16-event World Cup series held last year, which saw athletes forced to pick and choose their events, meaning some events were easier to win than others.