KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Bevan Docherty has defied a heavy workload to finish second in the rich seventh round of the International Triathlon Union World Cup at Des Moines in Iowa.
World No 4 Docherty picked up US$40,000 ($53,600) in the most lucrative race in World Cup history when he crossed the line 30s behind Danish winner Rasmus Henning yesterday.
With the focus of the New Zealand athletes on Olympic qualifying at the Beijing World Cup race in September, Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed and Terrenzo Bozzone were not favoured against the best field assembled this year.
But all featured strongly. Gemmell was the best-placed Kiwi after the swim in 15th place and eventually finished in that position.
Reed was one place behind him and Bozzone 24th.
The temperature for the men's race had dropped from the extremely difficult conditions the women endured.
New Zealanders Sam Warriner and Debbie Tanner struggled in the heat to finish off the pace.
They exited the water over a minute behind the lead bunch and struggled to close the gap from there, with Tanner eventually climbing to ninth and Warriner three places behind her.
The race was won by American Laura Bennett, who held off Australian Annabel Luxford by 14s.
- NZPA
