Multisports: Kiwi athlete in earthquake zone

Plans for the ironman triathlon world championships remain unchanged despite two earthquakes centred on the Big Island of Hawaii today.

Leading New Zealand ironman Cameron Brown said he felt two powerful tremors early today in the town of Kailua Kona, the venue for Ironman Hawaii on Sunday.

The earthquakes were listed by seismologists as magnitude 6.3 and 5.8 on the Richter scale.

Brown and manager Mark Watson were about to go for a training run in the Energy Lab, only a few kilometres from the centre of the earthquake.

"It was quite freaky at the time. It felt like everything around us was moving and we were in a pudding," Watson said.

When they returned to their apartment they found glasses and picture frames broken on the floor although there was no other obvious damage and Brown was to continue with his training today.

Thirty-three New Zealanders have qualified for the world championships.

Ironman organisers have reported that at this stage there are no alterations necessary to the event or the course.

They are in contact with state and local authorities assessing the situation.

"Ironman's foremost mission is the safety and care of the Kona community, event volunteers and its ironman athletes," an Ironman Hawaii spokesperson said.

"While reports from authorities and the resort management agencies are still coming in, local daily operations are resuming and proceeding as normal.

"Contingency plans are in place regarding the ironman world championships event but at the present time no alterations to the event or course are necessary."

- NZPA