Multisport: Tanner finishes sixth in Hungary

WELLINGTON - New Zealand triathlete Debbie Tanner stormed home for a sixth-place finish at the World Cup race in Hungary this morning (NZ time).

Tanner produced easily the quickest women's 10km run leg at Tiszaujvaros to make up 15 places after being 21st through the 1.5km swim and 40km cycle legs.

However, it wasn't enough to catch Germany winner Joelle Franzmann, who won in one hour 55 minutes 40 seconds from Brazilian Mariana Ohata.

Auckland's Tanner, the only New Zealand woman in the 54-strong field, showed the same sort of running form that carried her to her first World Cup win, in Japan in April. She clocked a sharp 34min 05sec but was still more than 1min behind Franzmann across the line.

The only New Zealander in the men's field was Liam Scopes, who finished 62nd.

Meanwhile, New Plymouth triathlete Hamish Johnson finished second at the ITU Mombassa International Triathlon held in Kenya yesterday.

Having placed 5th at the ITU Manila Triathlon in May along with two 10th placings at the ITU Tazo Italy and ITU Singapore internationals respectively, Johnson now qualifies for the Triathlon NZ high performance carded athlete programme.

Johnson, a physiotherapist, will train at Triathlon NZ's elite training base camp in Limoux , France next year.

"To be part of the base next year will offer me greater opportunities to do more European ITU International races ... the goal is to be selected for ITU World Cup events in Europe."

Johnson returns home to prepare for the first race in the new nine-race triathlon series starting in New Plymouth on November 11.

- NZPA