Multisports: Warriner second in ITU race

Northland triathlete Samantha Warriner finished second in the eighth round of the ITU World Cup in Manchester, England this morning (NZ time).

It's the second podium finish for the Athens Olympian who won the World Cup race in Ishigaki, Japan earlier in the season.

It has propelled Warriner to fifth on the world rankings, the highest for a New Zealand woman since Jenny Rose won the inaugural World Cup series 11 years ago.

Warriner unleashed a blistering 34 minutes 16 seconds for the 10km run, the fastest run split, to force her way on to the podium after trailing the leaders by 1min 30sec off the bike.

The English-born New Zealander was delighted with her second podium finish in front of her friends and family.

"I'm absolutely stoked. In some ways it means more to be that the win in Ishigaki," Warriner said. "People think the win was a real one-off after Japan but to get back on the podium is a real boost, especially here in such a strong field.

"It's given my confidence a real boost and has shown that may be I can do it in this sport."

Fellow New Zealander Taryn McLeod finished 27th.

Meanwhile Frenchman Fred Belaubre won the men's race in a bunch run with Shane Reed the best of the New Zealanders in 21st place with a time of 1hr 53.24sec.

Results: ITU World Cup, Manchester (Salford Quays), 1.5k swim 40k bike 10k run --:

Women: Liz Blatchford (GBR) 2:03.44, 1; SAMANTHA WARRINER (NZ) 2:04.06, 2; Helen Tucker (GBR) 2:04.11, TARYN MCLEOD (NZ) 2:08.19, 27th.

- NZPA