Multisport: Games looking good as Docherty does a Carter

Bevan Docherty crosses the line to win the New Zealand Triathlon Championships yesterday. Jeff Brass / Getty Images

Olympic silver medallist Bevan Docherty edged out Olympic champion Hamish Carter to win the national triathlon title yesterday and set up a tantalising Commonwealth Games contest.

The pair hit the front midway through the 10km run before Docherty outsprinted Carter in the final straight in front of his hometown crowd in idyllic conditions at Kinloch near Taupo.

It was a reversal of their epic battle for gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Taranaki's Clark Ellice was third as New Zealand's Games team enjoyed a strong hitout ahead of next month's race in Melbourne, with Whangarei's Samantha Warriner also winning the women's title.

Her Melbourne-bound team-mate Andrea Hewitt was second, with Canadian Jill Savege third.

Games hopes Docherty, Carter, Warriner and Hewitt were all pleased with their performances six weeks out from the race in Melbourne.

"It was a hoot to win in front of my hometown crowd," Docherty said.

"It was pretty awesome today. But I am not getting too carried away.

"The aim is six weeks away and I still have a lot to do. Hamish and I key off each other and we both had a solid race."

Canadian Colin Edwards and Gisborne veteran Stephen Sheldrake tested the talented field when they pushed clear on the three-lap 40km bike, opening up an advantage of 1m 30s.

Carter and Docherty were well positioned in the main chase pack and hauled back 40s on the first of four laps on the 10km ride around the scenic lakeside settlement.

They were joined by defending champion, Ellice, 23, as they hauled in the Canadian midway through the run, with the 2004 Olympic medallist going head to head before Docherty outkicked Carter for the win.

"The pace was quite weak on the bike today and Hamish and I were hauling them through in the end. I just played a waiting game on the run and sat on Hamish," Docherty said.

"It's superb to win at home and good to be back in good form. Now I have really got to hurt myself in the next few weeks and rise up another level to be competitive in six weeks time."

In his first race since finishing fourth at the world championships last September, Carter was pleased with his effort.

"I am further ahead than I thought. It's hard to know just where you are at in training and so overall I am really pleased," Carter said.

"That first race back is always hard. I felt quite strong on the bike and the run and I think I am well set up six weeks out. I don't usually run that well in my first race. It's pleasing."

Warriner joined Hewitt, of Christchurch, Games reserve Nicky Samuels, of Whangarei, and Savege in a breakaway pack on the bike as they opened a 5min lead over the chasers.

Warriner, the world No 7, broke clear early on the run to win in 2h 4m 17s, more than 1m clear of world under-23 champion Hewitt, with Savege 150m back in third.

"That was solid. It was okay.

"I was not that happy with my swim start but the four of us worked well together on the bike," Warriner said.

"I'm pleased overall with six weeks to go, although I need to lift to another level if I am to challenge the Aussies in Melbourne. Andrea had a good race and if we can work together like this in Melbourne anything could happen."

Wellington's Martin Van Barneveld and Anna Hamilton, of Auckland, won the elite under-23 titles and Aucklander William Curtayne and Oceania under-23 champion Rebecca Spence, of North Harbour, won the under-19s.

- NZPA