23
March 2002, Sunday Times
Carter
qualifies for Commonwealth Games in Oceania win
Former
World No 1 Hamish Carter demolished a class field
to win the Oceania Triathlon Championships at Millbrook
Resort near Queenstown today.
The
30-year-old Aucklander dominated on the run to win
by 40 seconds from Christchurch's Kris Gemmell, with
the pair qualifying for selection in the New Zealand
team for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Gemmell
outsprinted Australian based Kiwi Shane Reed and Craig
Watson, who has already qualified for his place in
Manchester.
Former
Wellingtonian Heather Evans outclassed the pack to
win the women's title by 1min 10seconds from Whangarei's
Samantha Warriner and qualify for the one position
available for Commonwealth Games selection for women.
Wellington's
Evelyn Williamson, who missed the race recovering
from injury, qualified for selection at last year's
world championships.
Carter
believes his more relaxed approach has paid dividends,
learning from the mistakes he made in the disappointing
26th place at the Sydney Olympics.
``I'm
hard on myself and use to try to dominate the whole
race, and you just can't do that,'' Carter said.
``So
I am now just focussing on putting the swim bike run
together and not what others are doing around me.
It's taken me 10 years to figure that out.''
He
also put thoughts of selection for the Commonwealth
Games out of his mind.
``Really
the Commonwealth Games didn't mean anything to me
until I made the team.
``Now
I have qualified I will be proud to represent New
Zealand with honour and I will be giving it death
on the day.''
Carter
was in dominant mood all day, second out of the 1.5km
swim in Lake Hayes behind Auckland junior Kieran Doe
and was in the lead group of six on the bike.
The
2000 world champion Olivier Marceau (France) worked
hard in the group with Carter, Doe, Gemmell, Reed
and Bevan Docherty.
World
No 2 Craig Watson led the chase group including Matt
Reed and Nathan Richmond to within 35 seconds at the
end of the hilly 40km bike around Millbrook and Arrowtown.
Carter
jumped to a 10-second lead at the end of four laps
around Millbrook Resort on the run and stretched that
to 28 seconds at the 5km mark from Shane Reed, Gemmell
and Marceau.
While
Carter ran away, recording a brilliant 33.01 for the
demanding 10km run, Watson burst from the back to
join Gemmell, Shane Reed and Marceau in an exciting
sprint finish.
The
24-year-old Gemmell, ranked 41st in the world, outkicked
the bunch to grab the vital second place and second
qualifying spot for the Commonwealth Games.
It
is the realisation of a dream for Gemmell, who suffered
a downturn last year when he had a tumor removed from
his colon.
``This
means a whole lot. I have spent the last few months
with my coach John Hellemans training just for this
race.''
Gemmell,
a noted runner, was confident of his ability to outsprint
his rivals.
``When
Hamish kicked clear I thought about trying to go with
him. But my strongest part is my kick at the end,
so I waited and went.
``This
means a whole lot to me.''
Evans,
the national champion who finished 27th at last year's
world championships, was a class above her rivals
today.
She
was third out of the swim in a chilly Lake Hayes and
was in a lead group of six who opened up a winning
3min 40sec advantage on the 40km bike.
Evans
and Warriner moved past bike leader Shanelle Barrett
early on the run before the Australian-based triathlete
moved into the lead on the second of four laps.
She
produced the day's fastest run of 38.50 for the 10km
to win in 2:11.37, with 1min 10sec back to a game
Warriner, who impressed in her first international
elite race following a silver medal in her age group
at last year's world championships in Canada.
Australian
Rebekah Keat, who won the New Zealand half ironman
title in January, pushed through for third a further
minute behind.
Taupo's
Fiona Docherty flashed home for fourth after falling
behind when she missed the chase pack out of transition
at the end of the swim.
Auckland's
Glen Tasker won the New Zealand age group title with
Switzerland's Christine Aberhart the leading woman.
For
further information contact:
Ian Hepenstall
Media Commissioner
Triathlon New Zealand
Tel 021 613181
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