Multisports: Bozzone second in US opener

A week after his top five finish in the New Zealand Xterra Championship in Rotorua, Terenzo Bozzone has finished second in the season-opening St Anthony's triathlon in St Petersburg, Florida.

Dropping back from the ironman, half ironman and Xterra distances of his recent racing, Bozzone was nevertheless pleased with his effort in the Olympic distance race which attracted 1000 starters. It was the 26th running of the race and offered a US$60,000 ($106,000) prize pool.

Back in fifth place after the 1500m swim with a time of 19m 18s - almost two minutes down on race leader Dusty McLarty (who went on to finish 31st) - Bozzone improved to second after the 40km cycle in which he recorded 54m 09s, the fastest time and 19s quicker than Andy Potts (US).

Potts then ran away with the fastest run time over 10km (31m 38s) to beat Bozzone (fifth fastest on the run with 32m 26s) by 1m 29s with Briton Stuart Hayes 43s back in third.

"It was a long day for me even though it was a shorter race than I'm used to," said Bozzone after his first attempt at an Olympic distance race in some time.

"It was non-drafting on the bike which made it a more fun playing field for me.

I lost a bit of time in the swim to the likes of Andy Potts and Matt Reed who has won twice here but I made up good ground on the tactical and fast bike course and came off the bike about 40s down.

"I ran most of the run with him [Potts] in my sights but couldn't seem to bridge the gap."

Bozzone now heads back across the US to California for Saturday's 27th Wildflower race over the half ironman distance.

He will be back in familiar territory having won the race in 2006 with a still course record time of 3h 53m 43s for the testing 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run on a course which is 60 per cent trails and 40 per cent road.

Later in the year Bozzone has his sights set on Ironman Germany before his first assault on the World Ironman Championship in Hawaii.