Triathlon: Carter's bronze eases bad dream

By CHRIS RATTUE at the Games

The grin on Hamish Carter's face said it all.

It also made a stark contrast to the figure that had wandered around the Sydney Opera House nearly two years ago, feeling he had let himself and his country down after finishing 26th in the Olympic triathlon, a race he went into at the top of the world rankings.

Carter admits to the odd sleepless night, still, over the Olympic race.

But at Manchester, the 31-year-old Aucklander went a decent way to making up for that disappointment when he took the bronze medal behind Olympic champion Simon Whitfield, of Canada, and Australian Miles Stewart.

Carter was also able to show the New Zealand public that his continually high world ranking, which stood at four going into the race, was not just about consistency, but also the ability to deliver in big races.

"Totally," Carter replied, when asked if this made up for Sydney, before adding: "Maybe not completely - winning would have been nice.

"It's all about doing it on the big occasion. It doesn't get any bigger than representing New Zealand.

"You go through all the preparation and the races on the world circuit which are very important, but there is still nothing like running with the silver fern on you.

"That is what competing is really all about. I'm absolutely delighted."

Carter was among the leaders after the swim at the Salford course, but a minute behind leaders Chris McCormack, of Australia, and Englishman Stuart Hayes after the bike ride.

But he found his legs on the second running lap and with Stewart launched an attack on McCormack and Hayes.

By this stage Whitfield, a superb runner, was already charging towards the gold medal. Stewart outsprinted Carter over the final metres.

McCormack had brashly predicted that Australia could take the six men's and women's triathlon medals, but Whitfield and Carter were among those who made a mockery of the suggestion. Australia ended up with a silver and a bronze.

Carter described the 27-year-old Whitfield, who has the distinction of winning the first Olympic and Commonwealth Games triathlons, as a superb athlete. Whitfield was prepared to conserve himself in the swim and cycle legs and give up a lead, then rely on his running ability to win.

Carter said he had been buoyed by the level of support around the course, which did not prove to be a good viewing one for spectators.

"I kept seeing people like old schoolmates, friends, members of the Games team," said Carter, whose next major aim is to win a medal at the Athens Olympics.

"It was incredibly noisy. I was trying to listen to my body, but it was so noisy I just couldn't hear myself."

Carter completed the 1.5km swim/40km bike ride/10km run in 1h 52.04m - 6s behind a strolling Whitfield.

The Christchurch pair of Kris Gemmell and Craig Watson finished sixth and eighth.

In the women's race, Heather Evans from Wellington finished fourth, 11s away from the bronze medal.

Fellow New Zealander Evelyn Williamson was 10th.

The race was won by Canadian Carol Montgomery.

Full coverage:
nzherald.co.nz/manchester2002

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