World champion an easy winner

Press, 1 February 1988, Page 7

World champion an easy winner

PA Wellington The world champion, Rick Wells, swept to victory in the Kiwi Lager national short course triathlon championship yesterday, leaving the women’s race winner. Sue Clark, to provide the upset. Wells, the world sprint and medium course champion, looked the part as he polished off a I.3km swim-out short by 200 m because of a windswept and choppy harbour —40 km cycle and 10km run in an impressive Ihr 54min 40s. His arch-rival, Brett Marshall, who had led the former Commonwealth Games swimmer out of the water, roped in the cycling expert, Jackson Foster, on the run to claim second, 800 m behind the world champion. It was predictable. Wells, aged 26, caught Marshall before a quarter of the bike ride had gone. He was unconcerned when Foster pulled back three minutes to close within 200 m as he expected his running to carry him away from trouble. He was right. Cruised was a word Wells, who is working himself back into training for the United States professional circuit, used to describe his Sunday morning recreation. "It was a good little cruise,” he said. “It was a pleasant day. I felt good out there and I had a good time. “I was not sure how I’d go. It surprised me. I was expecting to get into a bit of pain and difficulty,” the Aucklander said.

Clark was stunned with her victory over team-mate, Sue Prebble, and the pre-race favourite, Erin Christie, who had been in cracking form in Auckland this summer.

Clark began the run only nine seconds in front of Prebble, who as Sue Smith finished sixth in the national road running championships in 1979 behind Lorraine Moller.

Results: Men: R. Wells (Auckland) Ihr 54min 40s, 1; S. Marshall (Auckland) 1:57.05, 2; J. Foster (Auck-

land) 1:57.10, 3; B. Holmes (Auckland) 1:58.55, 4; R. Clark (Wellington) 2:00.22, 5; G. Stanbridge (Wellington) 2:01.19, 6; F. Clarke (Auckland) 2:01.30, 7; G. Werner (Christchurch) 2:02.07, 8; W. Shackleton (Hamilton) 2:02.25, 9; I. Edmond (Dunedin) 2:02.29, 10; Marshall (Matamata) 2:02.44, 11; T. Shelder (Auckland) 2:02.52, 12; B. Baxter (Christchurch) 2:02.59, 13; G. Prebble (Auckland) 2:04.26, 14; D. Bradding (Hamilton) 2:05.13, 15. Women: S. Clark (Auckland) 2:12.41,. 1; S. Prebble (Auckland) 2:14.16, 2; E. Christie (Auckland) 2:15.45, 3; C. Dunn (Wellington) 2:23.37, 4; A. Dokter (Wellington) 2:24.20, 5; H. Chesswas (Wanganui) 2:28.58, 6; J. Allen (Christchurch) 2:30.00, 7; T. Hogan (Auckland) 2:31.16, 8; P Charlton (Wellington) 2:31.23, 9; R. Gibson (Wellington) 2:31.48, 10.

Junior men: S. Donaldson (Matamata) 2hr 4min 19s, 1; S. Unsworth (Auckland) 2hr 6min 55s 3, B Cutfield (Auckland) 2hr 9min 57s 3, J. Hunt (Takapuna) 2hr 17min 535, 4. Men’s masters (over 40): M. McAlpine (Auckland) 2hr lOmin 48s, 1; M. Clark (Auckland) 2hr 13min 12s, 2; T. Harrow (Christchurch) 2hr 13min 555, 3; R. Forbes (Christchurch) 2hr I4min 335, 4; R. Litchwark (Rotorua) 2hr 15min 535, 5. Senior men (30-39): R. Faulding (Auckland) 2hr smin 535, 1; T. Wilkins (Invercargill) 2hr 6min Bs, 2; M. Smith 2hr 9min 58s, 3; R. Kaiwai 2hr lOmin 395, 4; J. Taylor (Wanganui) 2h Umin 435, 5. Junior women: D. White (Auckland) 2hr 40min 12s, 1; B. Lyon (Paremata) 2hr 42min 555, 2; V. Chandler (Wellington) 2hr 46min 535, 3; T. Minnach (Wellington) 3hr 14min 4fls, 4. Women’s masters: J. Rooney (Ashburton) 2hr 40min 375, 1; T. Lund (Auckland) 2hr 43min 255, 2; D. Rutene 2hr 44min 38s, 3; P. Rogers (Auckland) 2hr 55min 58s, 4; L. Calver (Wellington) 2hr 57min 495.