Kiwis victorious in Noumea, Bozzone and Warriner on podium in Knoxville

New Zealanders dominated the popular Ligue Caledonienne International Triathlon in Noumea with Ryan Sissons and Jo Lawn taking line honours ahead of a clutch of international triathletes.

For Sissons victory was sweet after he finished fourth in the same event last year.

“This is a great race and the organizers do a great job on putting on an awesome event with a good group of international triathletes. The race started at 8am, and by this time it was already starting to warm up, which is perfect for me. I had a good swim in my new Blueseventy tri-suit and exited the water at the front with a group of four.”

That lead group soon became three and it included Michael Poole (Auckland) as Sissons took the bike out hard. At about 7km into the first lap another 3 athletes joined that trio with John Polson, Aaron Farlow (both Australia) and Patrick Vernay (the home favourite) bridging the gap. Ironman NZ champion Cameron Brown was working hard by himself to try and bridge the gap up to the front.

On to the run and a group of five battled out a torrid first kilometre with Sissons biding his time before he unleashed his race winning move.

“The pace was solid with Polson slightly off the front and pushing. I hung back with Farlow as I knew it was still a long way to go. We caught Polson at 2km and by this time there were only 3 of us left at the front, with Vernay and Poole trailing.

“I was feeling really comfortable and was just planning my ‘tricky trick’, which I did at about 6.5km. I surged hard and got away, instantly putting a gap on the others and I knew this was the time to make it count, so I kept on pushing the pace.

“The crowd on the way back into transition and up to the finish shoot was great with hundreds of people lining the streets cheering all the athletes on. I came across the line winning my first Noumea International Triathlon in front of some other great athletes and a loud crowd.”

In the women’s race Jo Lawn was delighted with her late decision to race after hearing so many people rave about the event.

“I only decided a few weeks ago to do this race, I have heard so many good things about it and I decided to give it ago. Olympic distance for me is ouch ouch and a few more. But this is such a great way to get back into the swing of things after some time off.

”The swim for me was fast. These Olympic distance swims are fast and furious, a pace at which I am not so comfortable at. Actually the whole race is something that I am not too comfortable at. But who is when you are pushing yourself to your max for 2hours!”

Lawn emerged from the swim amongst the leaders but not sure of her actual placing, knowing that endurance and strength would be her allies on the day, but worried about her lack of speed.

”I have been doing some real tough runs up in the Waitakeres in Auckland, no speed work but plenty of endurance. I was comfortable and in control for the entire run and quickly dropped the two Aussie girls I was with and now I had only one left in front of me in Caroline Steffen. The ‘Swiss Miss’ had beaten me in Tauranga earlier in the year and I wanted revenge.

“I ran well and felt so good that within 5km I had her. But being such a good athlete I knew she wasn't going to give an inch. She pushed me by attacking a few times but I just relaxed and let her lose all her energy, then went for it with 2.5km to go. I had to go and go all the way. No looking back, oh accept for a few sneak peeks near the finish line.”

25th Anniversary Noumea International Triathlon
Elite Men
1 Ryan Sissons NZL
2 Aaron Farlow Aus
3 John Polsen Aus
4 Patrick Vernay New Caledonia
5 Michael Poole NZL
6 Cameron Brown NZL
7 Liam Scopes NZL
DNF Cameron Goldsmith NZL

Elite Women
1 Jo Lawn NZL
2 Caroline Steffen SUI
3 Rachel Paxton AUS
4 Melissa Trimm AUS

WARRINER AND BOZZONE SECOND IN KNOXVILLE
Sam Warriner and Terenzo Bozzone rounded out a busy month of racing with runner up finishes at the Rev3Tri Olympic distance event at Knoxville Tennessee this morning NZT.

Julie Dibens (GBR) was a comprehensive winner but Warriner was delighted with her effort just a week after finishing second at the St Croix 70.3 half Ironman.

“My swim was okay, nothing startling but I had a strong bike to run and even managed a sprint finish so I am loving that everything is coming back. They have nicknamed me ‘Silver Sam’ over here, I’m not sure if this is good or bad but I’ll take it as a compliment given my performances have seen me in the headlines a few times of late.”

That sprint finish from Warriner was enough to hold out fast finishing Kelley Williamson (USA) as the American mounted a concerted challenge in sight of the finish line but couldn’t overcome the determined Kiwi.

Bozzone’s runner up finish was all the more impressive over the shorter distance event given he had to watch his chief competitors from the side of the road during a stand-down for violating America's controversial stagger rule and came of the bike in 6th.

Once off the bike, Matt Reed (USA) rocketed to the front and first reeled in Chris Lieto (USA) before getting past the Swede Bjorn Andersson. Lieto, nonplussed after suffering an uncharacteristic spanking on the bike, took a bit longer reeling in the big Nordic überbiker, finally forging past Andersson about 6km into the contest.

But Andersson was the least of his worries. The penalty notwithstanding, Bozzone first caught Cameron Dye, who actually also got a penalty for losing a bottle and not picking it up. Bozzone next caught Andersson, and with about 800m to go he caught up to Lieto, but the fleet-footed Reed was way too far in the front.

Reed took the win, Bozzone finished second and Lieto was third, and Andersson held on to fourth. Graham O’Grady (NZL) came home in 8th place.
Bozzone enjoyed the day, despite the frustration of the stand down.

“The horn went off at 7.45am and we were off. The water was so cold which made it hard for me to get going. Out of the water in 8th place which wasn’t the start I was hoping for but knew I still had the bike and run to go.

“With a quick transition I was out onto the bike. I was feeling really strong and comfortable at this stage. Spinning well and getting into a good rhythm for the challenging 40km bike. But unfortunately half way through bike course I was controversially penalized with a 1 minute stand down. So off the bike on the side of the road for 1 minute which feels like forever with all of the other athletes passing by which can be soul destroying and race ruining but I wasn’t going to let it get to me and kept striving for the perfect race which very nearly happened.

“I passed Chris Lieto into 2nd with 150m to go. It would have been an exciting race for the spectators without the 1 minute penalty as I was 45 seconds down on Matt Reed at the finish line.

“Congratulations to Matt Chris and Bjorn Anderson who finished 4th but came past me on the bike like I was standing still! All in all I had a great time here in Knoxville and Rev 3 put on an amazing race and I look forward to the next race of theirs in Quassy, Connecticut on 6th June.”

Rev3Tri Series
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Elite Men
1. Matt Reed (USA) 1:51:55
2. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 1:52:42
3. Chris Lieto (USA) 1:52:48
4. Bjorn Andersson (SWE) 1:54:09
5. Cameron Dye (USA) 1:54:28
6. Brian Fleischmann (USA) 1:55:03
7. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 1:55:33
8. Graham O'Grady (NZL) 1:55:36
9. Jasper Blake (CAN) 1:55:49
10. Victor Zyemtsev (UKR) 1:55:56

Elite Women
1. Julie Dibens (GBR) 2:03:48
2. Sam Warriner (NZL) 2:07:04
3. Kelley Williamson (USA) 2:07:06
4. Pip Taylor (AUS) n/a
5. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 2:10:00
6. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 2:11:48
7. Jessica Jacobs (USA) 2:12:50
8. Laurel Wassner (USA) 2:13:22
9. Natascha Badman (SWI) 2:13:52