The 31-year-old was competing in the men's 30-34 age-group event when he stopped mid-way through the 10km run to provide assistance to a female competitor who had fainted. He placed her in the recovery position and waited for medics to arrive, before continuing his race.
While many may have thought his race was over, Creasy had other ideas. He hammered the remainder of the first running stage then mowed his opposition down over the 40km bike stage, to take a slender lead which he managed to hold over the second 5km running stage to the finish.
Tributes came thick and fast for the world age-group long-distance triathlon, national age-group half ironman and Otago duathlon champion and special mention of his deeds was made at the presentations later in the day.
Racing started in foggy conditions but finished in a brilliantly hot 20degC. Otago women's champion Katie Menzies excelled as the temperature rose.
She finished second in the combined women's age-group section and second in her age group.
It was a good hit out ahead of the national triathlon championships at Labour weekend.
Menzies came out of the 10km run in fourth position, and then nailed the cycle section with a really strong ride, hitting the transition to the 5km run in first place, only to be run down over the final stages.
"This was always going to be a chance to see how things were going before the worlds [world triathlon championships]," she said after her race yesterday.
"I am really pleased with my speed on the bike."
Of the six Otago competitors contesting age-group titles yesterday, five won medals.
Nadia McDonnell won silver in the women's under-19 section and Ginny Wilson finished sixth in the same grade. Lindsay Dey won bronze in the men's 60-64 age-group and Marion Maxwell won gold in the women's 50-54 section.
