Triathlete sharpening skills

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 72

Triathlete sharpening skills

PA Auckland Triathlete, Rick Wells, will sharpen up for the Kiwi Ironman triathlon on Sunday week by competing in the New Zealand swimming championships, which begin in Auckland today.

The 1987 world short and mid-length triathlon champion, Wells, represented New Zealand in the 100 m and 200 m freestyle events at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games, only just failing to make the 200 m final. j More recently, he re-

turned to competitive pool swimming with some success, finishing second in the 200 m freestyle at last month’s Auckland championships.

“The national swimming championships will be a good blowout for the Ironman,” Wells, aged 27, said yesterday. “I’m enjoying the competition in the pool and will be doing my best in the championships. I’m strong enough but not as sharp as I was back at the time of the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. I’ll be happy if I make the finals.”

Wells will contest the 200 m and 400 m freestyle events at the nationals. But his main priority is the Ironman just over a week later.

His first and only other attempt at the ultimate triathlons ended disastrously when he was forced to withdraw with severe cramps during the cycling stage in Kona, Hawaii, late last year. “Everything is on the target for the Kiwi Lager Ironman,” Wells said. “I’ve done as much as I can and believe I’ve got an outside chance of winning.- It depends on how

well I read the race and how I go on the day. “It’s a very strong field — probably the best yet for the big New Zealand event.” The race favourite is last year’s winner, American Scott Tinley. After an absorbing battle with fellow American Ray Browning, he won by just 265, a tiny margin in an event that lasts about nine hours.

Another top contender is expected to be Finland’s Pauli Kiuri who finished tenth in the Bud Light Ironman in Hawaii last year.