Athletics: Watson quick to show form

Christchurch athlete Craig Watson made an outstanding return to top-line triathlon by finishing second in the eighth round of the International Triathlon Union World Cup in Manchester yesterday.

Watson, based in France, has been out of the sport at the top level since the Commonwealth Games last year.

He made his successful return on the same Salford Quays course used for the Games.

Watson, who has seen his No 1 world ranking slip to 22, was pipped by Englishman Andrew Johns in a sprint finish.

During the race American Seth Wealing and Englishman Stuart Hays forced their way clear of a 50-strong bunch on the six-lap bike in cool and misty conditions.

But Watson, Johns and fellow Englishman Tim Don, already a world cup winner this year, cut through the field to pass Hays near the end of the 10km run. Wealing was forced out with cramp.

They dropped Don before Johns managed to outkick Watson to win by 20m, with Martin Krnavek (Czech Republic) coming home for third.

Former Kiwi Paul Amey, now racing for Great Britain, was 13th.

Australian-based Kiwi Heather Evans, fourth in the course at the Commonwealth Games, suffered from mechanical problems, forcing her out on the bike section.

In another outstanding effort, Aucklander Joanna Lawn battled atrocious conditions to finish third in the Ironman USA triathlon at Lake Placid.

The Ironman New Zealand champion took the lead early in the marathon run but was passed by 1997 world champion Heather Fuhr 8km from the finish as the Canadian went on to win for the fourth time at Lake Placid.

The athletes battled strong headwinds and torrential rain for most of the run.





Lawn ran 3h 10m in winning Ironman New Zealand, and managed 3h 24m in the US race.



In Germany, Taupo athlete Fiona Docherty finished fourth in the ITU International race. Fellow Kiwi Shane Reed was eighth.

- NZPA