New Zealand's Samantha Warriner wins the ITU Aquathlon World Championships on Australia's Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Australia New Zealand's Samantha Warriner won her first ITU Aquathlon World Championship as racing got under way on Gold Coast leading in to this weekend's Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championships Series Grand Final.
The Kiwi posted the fastest first run split over 2.5km, however then swam too far as she missed the turnaround buoy during the 1000m, adding a further 100m to her efforts. Her mistake allowed Australian veteran Maxine Seear into the lead, however the Aussie was helpless to hold off the charging Warriner over the second 2.5km run, as the New Zealander ran her way to victory. Seear was strong enough to hold on to second with Lisa Mensink from the Netherlands in third.
Warriner's ITU Aquathlon World Championship victory was a welcome return to action for the 2008 World Series winner following an injury-stricken year which included being stung by a stingray and a nasty bike crash.
"Lisa [Mensink] and I went to the wrong buoy during the swim, but that's racing. Then once I got out it was all about having one last hard key session before the weekend's triathlon world championships on Sunday," said Warriner. "It's all about having fun now and seeing how I go, for me it's all about 2010 following my injuries. I'm committed to the Olympics so this is about saying thank you to Triathlon New Zealand for supporting me through this tough year."
2009 Gold Coast Aquathlon World Championships
Elite Women
2.5km run - 1.0km swim - 2.5km run
1. Samantha Warriner, NZL. 33:11
2. Maxine Seear, AUS. 33:23 +0:12
3. Lisa Mensink, NED. 33:39 +0:28
