New Zealand’s Samantha Warriner has won the 2007 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup in Hungary today, the fifth win of her great career. In the last major tune-up before the 19th world championships in Hamburg in three weeks, she came into the race as the top ranked woman in the field and the veteran did not disappoint. Warriner was part of an 18-woman lead group in the bike that at one point had more than a minute lead. But the chase pack that included strong runners like Debbie Tanner and Nadia Cortassa worked well together and cut the lead to just 15 seconds as the women came off the bike.
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Almost the entire field of 50 women headed out onto the flat 10-kilometer run course together with Warriner immediately pushing the pace and established the lead. As the run wore on, she continued to distance herself from the field with a 28-second lead with just one lap to go. Draped in the New Zealand flag, Warriner coasted to the finish line to take the Tiszaujvaros crown.
“I got off the bike and I thought, ‘Right I’m going to take it to them’ and I went out and led from the front. I like running at the front and kept increasing my lead. The last lap I was hurting but I didn’t care, I wanted the win,” said Warriner.
In a season dominated by Portuguese star Vanessa Fernandes, Warriner becomes the only other woman to win multiple world cup title this year after having conquered Vancouver earlier this year. She won’t catch Fernandes in the rankings but Warriner jumps to number two in the world, heading into the world championships in Hamburg in three weeks. She also becomes the first woman from New Zealand to win in the 11-history of the Tiszaujvaros event.
“It’s amazing. I wanted a good result today because I had a good one in Salford two weeks ago and I’m known to be a bit inconsistent so I wanted to show that I’m back and can back up my results,” said Warriner. “This is my fifth win and every win is better because you have to work so much harder to get it.”
With a Warriner victory looking more and more certain by the middle of the run, the real race began to take shape between Debbie Tanner and Emma Moffatt. The two young stars ran side-by-side for almost the entire ten kilometers. In the final stretch, Edmonton winner Moffatt pulled ahead and sprinted across the line for the silver while Tanner settled for bronze.
A great performance by Team BG member Yuliya Yelistratova of Ukraine who finished in fourth place, the best ever result for Team BG at a world cup. Cortassa of Italy was fifth for her best world cup placing of the season.
2007 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup – Final Women’s Results:
1. Samantha Warriner (NZL) 2:00:11
2. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 2:00:31
3. Debbie Tanner (NZL) 2:00:35
4. Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) 2:00:55
5. Nadia Cortassa (ITA) 2:01:04
6. Wieke Hoogzaad (NED) 2:01:26
7. Marion Lorblanchet (FRA) 2:01:43
8. Kathrin Mueller (GER) 2:01:51
9. Carolyn Murray (CAN) 2:01:55
10. Ewa Dederko (POL) 2:01:57
