KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders Sam Warriner and Debbie Tanner struggled in the heat to finish off the pace in the seventh round of the International Triathlon Union World Cup in Iowa this morning (NZ time).
Both 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, featuring and the richest ever World Cup first prize of US$200,000 ($268,348) was won by American Laura Bennett, who held off Australian Annabel Luxford by 14 seconds.
Tanner defied humid 36degC temperatures to pick off a number of athletes on the run leg, with many forced to withdraw. She was two minutes 16 seconds behind Bennett.
"Today was really all about survival in some of the toughest conditions I have experienced," Tanner said.
"It was obvious early on in the bike that this was going to be a battle of attrition. We worked really hard on the bike and caught the chase group but couldn't close the gap on the leaders.
"On the run there were girls blowing up everywhere so for me it was a case of maintaining composure and slowly picking off as many places as I could."
Warriner also picked up a share of the US$700,000 prize purse but was never in contention on the run and like Tanner, was concerned about finishing in reasonable physical shape.
"The finish line is a little like a hospital scene with girls on drips and being attended to," she said.
Warriner won the Vancouver leg of the ITU series last weekend.
A third New Zealander in the field, Evelyn Williamson, struggled throughout and finished 22nd.
- NZPA
