Kate McIlroy and Nicky Samuels both went top five at the opening ITU World Triathlon Series event in Auckland today but were no match for the hugely impressive Anne Haug of Germany, who repeated her win from last October on the Auckland course in the first race of the ITU world series.
 Anne Haug wins the Auckland triathlon(Photo: Delly Carr / ITU; click to enlarge) |
Into the 10km run the race was down to four with Haug joined by McIlroy, Maaike Caelers of the Netherlands and Felicity Abram of Australia.
Haug made a move with 2km remaining and went on to record 2h 8m 20s, three seconds ahead of Caelers. Abram held on for third and McIlroy was fourth in 2h 8m 43s.
Haug who has now won her last three races on the international circuit said it was an amazing and fantastic run.
"I didn't expect that, but everything went perfect for me. I had that little bit of energy left but that last km I was tiring and I gave it everything and I was so lucky to reach the finish line."
Caelers worked hard on the swim coming through the 1500m distance in 19m 31s.
"I stayed in contact on the bike and I didn't expect to be running that fast on the run as I have done no speed work since Mooloolaba.
"I was pushing and pushing over the last kilometre but just ran out of distance. I'm pleased with second though."
Abram worked hard early on the run back once McIlroy took over the pace dropped back and held on for third.
"I'm happy with that I haven't been on the podium for a very long time. After racing here in October I wanted to do well and podium and I did it today.
"We all knew that Annie was going to go, I tried a couple of times, I'm moderately fit but not that fast," said Abram.
McIlroy said that the whole race was hard.
"It would have obviously been nice to be on the podium. It is my second best result ever in a world triathlon series and I couldn't ask for much better to be honest."
The 31 year old who was tenth at the London Olympic Games said that she tried to push the pace a bit on the run.
"The girls were strong and classy and tick their legs over a bit quicker than me, so I had to settle for fourth," she said.
Nicky Samuels in fifth in 2h 9m 43s said the result was satisfactory being her first race of the season.
"It took a while to warm up on the run and I just ran out of space at the end to catch Kate," she said.
Andrea Hewitt was never in the hunt throughout, which was not surprising given a tumble earlier in the week took its toll today. She finished back in 15th in 2h 11m 40s.
"I hit a stone and punctured on Tuesday in training and went down, hit my head and left me with a numb face."
"I had nothing in the swim, the others swam over me. The bike nothing there especially on the hills it was tough. I kept trying to push it on the run and when I couldn't just settled back," she said.
"It is disappointing as I was hoping to be okay for this race as training has been going really well."
New mum Samantha Warriner was 18th in 2h 12m 31s found the swim cold despite it being 20.3 degrees.
"I had a really bad swim it was too cold. I had a strong bike and a really good first half of the run. But the last 5km I'm just not there yet I need a few more months.
"It was really good fun out there and the crowds were just amazing," said Warriner.
Teenager Mikayla Nielsen punctured putting her out on contention, finishing 24th in 2h 18, 56s despite having to run 2km pushing her bike to the wheel station for a replacement wheel.
Simone Ackermann was perhaps the hard luck story of the day though, the Oceania U23 champion swam superbly and was riding in the lead group when a plastic bag got caught in her rear chain ring, bringing an end to her race. Ackermann was on target for a career best performance and was to have donated all of her prize money to the family of 16 year old triathlete Alana Lythe.
Alana's mother Mardie was paralysed in a flying fox accident just over a week ago and Ackermann and the North Harbour Tri Club are raising money for the family and in particular for Alana to enable her to continue to transport herself and her three sisters. Mardie is expected to spend 2 to 4 months in the Spinal Clinic at Otara. People wishing to help the fund can donate via internet banking to the Alana Lythe Car Trust. Account # 03 0181 0355643 00
Results: ITU World Triathlon, Auckland
Elite Women
1. Anne Haug (GER) 2:08:20
2. Maaike Caelers (NED) 2:08:23
3. Felicity Abram (AUS) 2:08:33
4. Kate Mcilroy (NZL) 2:08:43
5. Nicky Samuels (NZL) 2:09:25
6. Yuka Sato (JPN) 2:09:43
7. Jessica Harrison (FRA) 2:09:46
8. Juri Ide (JPN) 2:09:57
9. Charlotte Mcshane (AUS) 2:10:13
10. Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) 2:10:15
