New Zealand’s Nicky Samuels delighted home crowds with her first Aquathlon victory on the opening day of ITU World Championship events in Auckland on Wednesday.
In the women’s race, Samuels was buoyed by an enthusiastic home crowd as she pulled away on the 5km run to claim her first ITU world title. It was also her second ITU win in a row, after her World Cup win in Tongyeong last month.
“I didn’t know how this race would go and if I could win it, but I thought it’s in New Zealand so why not go out there and give it a go,” Samuels said. “It’s fabulous, we’re at home and it’s surreal really that we have this world series event in this big city and everything is shut down for it. It’s so well run and with all the restaurants and people, they are all cheering for Kiwis because that’s all they know and it was a great experience to be out there.”
Ireland’s Emma Davis claimed the silver medal and Croatia’s Tea Milos finished with bronze. Slovakia’s Ivana Kuriackova won the junior women’s title.
A record 780 age-group athletes and paratriathletes also competed in the first day of action at the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.
The action continues all week in Auckland, click here for the full rundown
Elite Women
1. Nicky Samuels NZL 00:33:02
2. Emma Davis IRL 00:34:23
3. Tea Milos CRO 00:34:54
4. Audrey Landier FRA 00:41:27
