Bevan Docherty outran Clark Ellice and Debbie Tanner outsprinted Nicky Samuels to take the New Zealand Olympic distance national titles Saturday at Wellington, New Zealand.
“I paced myself well on the run and was never in any discomfort and finished strong,” said Docherty, the 2004 ITU World Champion, 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist. “A national championship is nice, for sure.”
“I am stoked,” said Tanner, a 2008 Olympian who is ranked number 8 in the world. “I feel like I am back in the groove for the first time this season. I have won a national title before, but not for a while.”
The men
On a cold, windless day under overcast skies at Wellington’s waterfront Waitangi Park, a tight pack of 11 men emerged from the 1500 meter swim right around 18:30, including pre-race favorites Docherty, Ellice, Graham O’Grady and Shane Reed. On the bike, Martin Van Barneveld made the only move, but could only gain a 50 meter advantage on a pack of 10 who finished the 40k bike in a swarm right at 1 hour 3 minutes and change.
Docherty made his break midway through the run, finishing with a race-best 31:06 10k and a 1:52:59 overall time that gave him a 20-second margin over runner-up Ellice. Graham O’Grady took third, falling seven seconds back of Ellice, losing the footrace by 31:34 to 31:40. Callum Millward finished in 1:54:22, passing 2008 Olympian Shane Reed on the run to take fourth place with an 8-second margin over 5th place Reed. After his hard fought solo bike, Martin Van Barneveld could only manage a 32:56 run which left him 6th.
The women
Tanner emerged from the swim in 20:17 with a 2-second margin on eventual Under 23 winner Rebecca Spence and a 30-second lead on Samuels. The two then waited for Samuels to work a bike breakaway that put the trio two minutes ahead by the end of the 40k ride.
“I looked around after the swim, saw no one other than Rebecca, and so put my head down and went for it,” said Tanner to New Zealand Triathlon media. “Nicky caught us on the bike and she and Rebecca worked so hard, we all did, and put some time on Kate McIlroy.”
Tanner gradually pulled away, scoring a race-best 36:13 run that gave her a 2:04:54 finish with a 12-second margin of victory over Samuels. McIlroy blazed to a second-best 36:15 run. But McIlroy’s 1:11:23 bike – three minutes slower than the breakaway riders – left her behind Spence and third in the senior elite women in 2:08:33.
New Zealand Olympic Distance Triathlon Nationals
ITU Continental Cup - Contact National Triathlon Series
Wellington, New Zealand
March 14, 2009
S 1.5k/ B 40k/ R 10k
Results
Elite men
1. Bevan Docherty NZL 1:52:59
2. Clark Ellice NZL 1:53:19
3. Graham O’Grady NZL 1:53:26
4. Callum Millward NZL 1:54:22
5. Shane Reed NZL 1:54:30
6. Martin Van Barneveld NZL 1:54:45
7. Daniel Lee Chi Wo NZL 1:55:10
8. James Upton NZL 1:55:57
9. James Elvery NZl 1:56:10
10. Daniel Halksworth NZL 1:56:30
Elite women
1. Debbie Tanner NZL 2:04:54
2. Nicky Samuels NZL 2:05:07
3. Kate McIlroy NZL 2:08:33
4. Lena Brunkhorst NZL 2:09:21
5. Kelly Bruce NZL 2:12:23
6. Naomi Fergusson NZL 2:18:17
7. Julia Grant NZL 2:18:32
8. Sarah Bryant NZL: 2:21:11
U23 Men
1. Tony Dodds NZL 1:53:49
2. Ryan Sissons NZL 1:53:54
3. Jos Hoetjes NZL 1:54:09
U23 women
1. Rebecca Spence NZL 2:06:06
2. Jacqui Seebold NZL 2:09:58
