KEY POINTS:
Five-time New Zealand ironman champion Cameron Brown found success over a shorter distance yesterday, winning the fifth round of the national triathlon series at Blue Lake near Rotorua. Ninth after the 1.5km swim leg, Brown powered to a three-minute lead after the 40km cycle leg and held on over the 10km run to win in 2h 12m 15s.
"It was a tough course and I had to keep the pace on the whole time," Brown said.
Auckland's Blair Jordan was second in 2h 14m 40s while series leader Tristan Calwell from Auckland's North Shore was third, more than 2m further back. Calwell holds on to first place in the series standings.
Brown was pleased to perform well in an Olympic distance event ahead of Ironman New Zealand in Taupo on March 3.
In the women's race, Christchurch's Gina Ferguson has her third win of the series, maintaining her overall lead. Ferguson won in 2h 31m followed nearly 6m back by Anna Hamilton of Albany and Nelson's Anne-Marie Madden.
- NZPA
