Triathlon: Docherty eyes podium finish

Bevan Docherty New Zealand triathletes are primed to build on a golden harvest as the world championship series continues in the United States on Monday.

Bevan Docherty and Andrea Hewitt have starred in the earlier rounds, with Docherty winning the Korea leg and Hewitt doing likewise in Madrid.

Olympic multi-medallist Docherty skipped the last race in Madrid and is sure he is in good shape to challenge for a podium finish in Washington.

"Training has been going fantastic without too many issues so I am looking forward to another good race," Docherty said yesterday.

"I decided in my planning to miss Madrid and concentrate on Washington and have spent a good few weeks training at altitude at my base in Boulder.

"I haven't raced on the course before but it is pretty flat and should lead to an exciting race."

The men's field will see the top four finishers from the 2008 Beijing Olympics go head to head for the first time since the Games while in the women's event the return of Australians Emma Snowsill and Emma Moffat adds spice to the series.

Olympic champion Jan Frodeno, of Germany, ran well in the second leg of the series to finish 10th in Madrid having spent the cycle portion in the chase pack.

The Beijing silver medallist, Canadian Simon Whitfield, started his season with a disappointing 14th at the opening leg in Korea and will want to make amends in Washington.

Docherty, the bronze medallist in Beijing last year, will also confront Spain's Javier Gomez, who he just pipped for a medal in China.

In the women's race all eyes will be on 2008 Olympic champion Snowsill.

For Hewitt, it is a case of looking for consistency to back up from her win in Madrid.

"Washington will be my first triathlon in America, so I'm looking forward to the new experience," Hewitt said.

Docherty will be joined in the men's race by compatriots Clark Ellice and Kris Gemmell.

Hewitt will have fellow New Zealanders Dennie Tanner and Rebecca Spence for company.

- NZPA