Athletics: Titleholders back for Bay

By Terry Maddaford

Cameron Brown and Heidi Alexander will be warm favourites to successfully defend their titles in the annual Bay of Plenty Olympic distance triathlon tommorow.

The pair head a growing field for the Tinman event, which promises to be a record-breaking competition with the move to a closed circuit for the 40km cycle leg.

The 1500m swim in Pilot Bay will be followed by the three-lap cycle leg and 10km run which includes one lap of the base of Mt Maunganui.

While many of New Zealand's top triathletes will hold back until next year before making their Olympic selection bid, many competitors will use tommorow's race as part of their preparation for the January 8 Port of Tauranga half-ironman which doubles as the New Zealand long-distance triathlon.

Organisers expect close to 400 individuals and 100 teams for the Tinman and up to 600 individuals and 200 teams for the longer event.

"There has been a lot more interest from overseas competitors for the half-ironman," said Sport Bay of Plenty chief Craig Ross. "We have had good entries from Brazil, Argentina and the United Kingdom so far.

"Often we have less then five per cent from outside New Zealand but it appears we will have closer to 15 per cent this time."