Multisport: Bozzone blasts into fourth

New Zealand teenager Terenzo Bozzone finished an outstanding fourth in his first serious tilt on the World Cup triathlon circuit in Hawaii yesterday.

Bozzone, a two-time world junior champion, produced a superb performance on the run in scorching conditions to finish 15 seconds behind the winner, England's Tim Don, in the opening round of the championship.

His compatriot, world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Bevan Docherty, was 24th but was treating the opener as a shakedown for the remainder of the season.

American Seth Wealing and Frenchman Stefan Poulat made a break early on the 40km bike, with a large bunch finally hauling them in.

All the leading New Zealanders were in the pack, including Docherty, Bozzone, Graham O'Grady, Shane Reed and Nathan Richmond.

The heat proved the difference on the 10km run, with former world duathlon champion Don in a torrid battle with American Hunter Kemper, Australian Courtney Atkinson and Bozzone.

Don out-kicked the group to win the sprint in a race record 1h 54m 23s, with Kemper second, Atkinson third and Bozzone fourth.

Reed was the next best of the New Zealanders in 12th, ahead of Docherty, O'Grady, 27th, and Richmond, 33rd.

Emma Snowsill, the 2003 world champion, won the women's race in an Australian trifecta, ahead of Athens Olympic silver medallist Loretta Harrop and Annabel Luxford.

Debbie Tanner was the leading New Zealander, in 15th, with Carmel Hanly 26th.

- NZPA