KEY POINTS:
Olympic distance world series champion Samantha Warriner smashed the race record while winning the 20th anniversary Port of Tauranga Half Ironman at Mt Maunganui yesterday.
Northlander Warriner was all class in clocking 4 hours 10 minutes 47 seconds for the 2km swim, 90km bike and 21km run, breaking the 13-year record held by two-time world champion Jenny Rose by 2m 30s.
She finished 8 minutes ahead of two-time winner Joanna Lawn to emphasise her dominance in the event that doubled as the Triathlon New Zealand long distance championships.
Taupo's Duncan Milne took out the men's title for the first time, holding off a brilliant finish by eight-time champion Cameron Brown, who recovered from more than six minutes lost late on the bike leg to a puncture. Brown closed to just 27s behind Milne.
Defending champion Kieran Doe saw his early lead swallowed up on the final lap of the bike by a group of six riders including Milne, Brown, Waiuku's James Bowstead, Tauranga's Blair Jordan and Auckland's Jamie Whyte. Brown then punctured 8km from the finish as the ill Doe dropped away, making a tour of the toilets on the run course.
Bowstead and Whyte made the initial move on the run before the experienced Milne, 31, showed his strength to move into the lead by the halfway stage.
He managed to hold the top pack at bay as Brown, who stood up the leaders by six minutes going on to the run, started to make inroads.
He was still two minutes behind the leader in fifth place on the final circuit around the Mount base track but powered home in second with a scintillating 1h 15m 1s half marathon.
Bowstead, 22, finished a creditable third place ahead of the fast finishing Jordan and Whyte.
"It's been a couple of years since I have done the race when I was second to Cameron. He nailed me on the run that day," Milne said.
"I had an ordinary year last year but have been training well. It all came together for me today. It's the best win of my career and it's also really encouraging with the racing coming up.
"I just stayed patient on the run and gradually the leaders came back to me. It's tough running around the Mount so I knew that would be the real test and where I made my move."
Brown, 36, was both pleased and disappointed with the day.
"The puncture was a real pain. I was exactly where I wanted to be. But when there's rain like we had early in the morning before the start, then it brings all the glass to the surface and it's so easy to puncture," Brown said.
"That aside, I had a fantastic race - perhaps one of the best that I have ever had here. I felt really good throughout and the result was that run. The pleasing thing is where I am at with Ironman New Zealand coming up in eight weeks.
"There's a lot of miles and hard work to come but this shows I am well advanced."
Warriner was magnificent, pushing out from a small lead after the swim to ride away from Lawn by 6m on the bike. She then produced a solid run to smash the race record, including a celebratory walk along the finish chute.
The victory delighted the Northlander, who bounced back from a disappointing Olympics to win the ITU world series title.
With no major triathlon event until the London Olympics, Warriner felt it was the ideal time to try her hand at the longer distance.
"I actually thought I should have got a bit more out of my swim but I really knuckled down and worked hard on the bike. I was surprised that I put time on Jo, which was pleasing. I am thrilled with the win and to beat that record is special and means a lot. It was very special."
Second-placed Lawn was content with her performance.
"Sam was in a different class today, that's for sure," Lawn said.
"I am working towards Ironman New Zealand in March and so I am content with how I am progressing. There were lots of positive signs, especially with my run today."
The 20th anniversary was a celebration for inaugural champion Scott Ballance, who has recovered from a life-threatening coronary condition six years ago to complete the race.
Fourteen previous winners raced yesterday, including the inaugural women's winner Karen Williams of Auckland and three-time winner Tony O'Hagan, aged 42, who finished in the top 25 overall.
- NZPA
