Warriner aims to push hard for Tauranga test

Only days out from racing in her first serious event since recovering from injury, Whangarei triathlete Sam Warriner is feeling strong and fit ahead of the 2010 Port of Tauranga Half Ironman.
The defending 2009 champion took  time out from training late last year to fully recuperate after a cycling accident in Los Angeles put a stop to her International Triathlon Union World Championship Series campaign.
Slowly, she has built her base fitness up and enters Saturday's half ironman confident she will hold her own among a tough elite female field.
"I'm hoping to feel strong during the race - it's my first race where I say I'm over my injury. I've had a good build-up and have been able to train without hurting," she said.
While Warriner was hopeful of completing the 2km swim, 90km bike and 21km run in the top five women, it will be a tough ask.
Endurance athlete Jo Lawn, who won the opening round of the Contact Tri Series at Whangamata on Sunday, will be lining up, as is three-time champion Rebekah Keat and Australian Kate Bevilaqua, who won the Tauranga event in 2008. "I will be pushing it as hard as I can on Saturday and will just see how I go ... you can't beat racing in New Zealand, there's always a good crowd there cheering you on." 
This event sold out within four hours online,  so it shows how popular it is," she said.
Along with getting back into training during the past few months, Warriner has been planning her wedding to Stephen Bradley at their home, near Parua Bay. Warriner's English family from Surrey travelled to attend the December 29 wedding, as well as spending Christmas with the couple.
Fitting in training and spending quality time with her relations was difficult for Warriner, who was philosophical.
"Obviously my wedding and family were more important to me at this time - and my training went on the backburner these last few weeks but I was always using the Port of Tauranga Half as a training race.
"My family are my priority - it's not every year you get married and your family are over for Christmas," she said.
Warriner is using the half ironman as a training run ahead of the 2010 ITU Championship series, which kicks off on April 11, in Sydney.
A small but strong Northland contingent will  contest  Saturday's event along with Warriner, including Kaitaia's Lance O'Sullivan and Whangarei's Sam Johanson, who are lining up in the men's 35-39-year category. Suzanne Galloway, of Whangarei,  will race in the women's 40-44 age group.
Whangarei's Robyn Ackermann is contesting the female 45-49 division, while Johan Ackermann and Graeme MacDonald will set off in the men's 50-54 class. Finally, Abigail Wilkinson, of Whangarei, will try her luck in the 25-29 women's division.