New Zealander Nicky Samuels was involved in a rare triathlon dead heat when finishing next to Barbara Riveros in a Contact Tri Series sprint race in Takapuna today.
Samuels had dominated the first two phases of the event, leading after the 500m swim but quickly stamping her authority on the 16km bike leg as she rode to a 46-second lead over Chile athlete Riveros, with Kiwis Debbie Tanner, Sophie Corbidge and Simone Ackermann another 40 seconds back to the third chase group.
That lead looked to have eroded in the first lap and a half of the 4.2km run, though, with Riveros closing the gap to under 10 seconds. She drew level with less than a kilometre left and looked to have the race won with 100m to go, but as the two approached the finish line with a huge crowd cheering for the Kiwi, Samuels found an extra gear to surge alongside Riveros and break the tape simultaneously.
Officials poured over three television camera angles and many still shots but were unable to separate the two, and with official timing also having them crossing the line together, a first ever Contact series dead heat was called.
"I thought maybe I could hang on through to the end,'' said Samuels.
