Warriner and Gemmell look forward to their first World Cup of the season

New Zealand triathlete Sam Warriner begins her path to Beijing in New Plymouth on Sunday when she lines up in the ITU BG World Cup race at midday New Zealand time.

 

The Whangarei based athlete may have set herself for just the one peak this year at the Games in August but is keen to perform well at home.

 

“As an athlete you always want to perform well at home. I’m going to have a lot of friends and sponsors in New Plymouth and of course I want to race well in front of them. I always give it 100% at any race and this Sunday won’t be any different. But that said I’ve done no speed work at all, I’m getting toward the end of a big block of base training. Just last week I ran 150km’s so I’ve really got no expectations.”

 

The heavy workload and no speed work does not mean Warriner has not tapered at all however, in fact she enjoyed something of a rare luxury earlier this week.

 

“Yes I’ve tapered, it’s actually the first time this year I’ve had a complete day off training, Wednesday was a total rest day, and the only thing I did was go into Okato School down here in New Plymouth and present some certificates at assembly. I’ll have a couple of easy days leading into the event, just the normal really.”

 

Warriner arrives in New Plymouth fresh off running a personal best at the National 5,000m track championships last weekend, confirmation that her training is progressing well.

 

As for the ones to keep an eye on, aside from the other Kiwis Warriner says our Trans Tasman neighbours will be as tough as ever.

 

“The Australians are using New Plymouth as one of three selection races for the Olympics so the Aussie girls will be out to impress. Emma Moffat finished one place above me in the World Rankings last year so she’ll definitely be here to race. Lisa Norden finished 3rd last weekend in the first round of the ITU World Cup and being just 22 she’s got the ability to recover quickly and have another good race this weekend.

 

“I’m just going to be focusing on ‘Sam Warriner’ though. The older I get the more I realise that you really can only control your own race, the only person who can beat Sam Warriner on the day is me.”

 

Fellow Kiwi Kris Gemmell meanwhile is his usual upbeat self before heading into his first World Cup race of the season. Like Warriner, Gemmell stayed away from Mooloolaba, preferring to open his account at New Plymouth.

 

“It’s been a long summer of training here in the beautiful Manawatu. But there comes a moment when its time to jump in the ring and go a few rounds. And no better time than when the best in the world come down to our shores to race in my backyard. I never would have thought when I started my professional triathlon career that I would be able to just jump in my car and drive to a World Cup event from my own home.”

 

The world number five in 2007 says he is in good shape and is looking forward to putting some of his training methods into a race day situation.

 

“My training has been going really well and I'm looking forward to the race. As most will know I like to race with my heart on my sleeve and this week will be no different. I know the areas I've been working on over the summer months. And I'll be using it to apply any sort of pressure I can on the rest of the boys.”

 

New Plymouth ITU BG World Cup, April 6

Elite women: Midday

Elite men: 2.30pm

 

Full schedule of events at the World Tri Festival starting Friday April 4 can be found at www.triathlon.org.nz