Triathlon: Warriner wins at Wanaka

A strong cycle leg from local favourite Nicky Samuels wasn't enough to hold off Sam Warriner in the third round of the national triathlon series in Wanaka yesterday.

Invercargill's Penny Hayes led out of the water with Samuels, Warriner and Maddy Brunton not too far behind.

Samuels split the field on the 20km cycle leg, eventually leading Warriner by over a minute heading into the 5km run.

It proved insufficient, as Warriner showed no ill effects of last weekend's win at the Port of Tauranga half ironman to run Samuels down in just the second lap, going on to win in one hour, two minutes and one second.

Samuels was second in 1hr 03min 26sec, with Waikato's Brunton third a further three minutes back.

In the men's race, former world championship under-23 bronze medalist Martin van Barneveld finished a scant second clear of local favourite Tony Dodds with Austria's Andreas Giglmayr third.

Dodds and van Barneveld were shoulder to shoulder for much of the run until van Barneveld kicked clear within sight of the line to win by just one second in 54 minutes 57 seconds.