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Siri Lindley Conquers "The Rock" for the Second Year in a Row!

For immediate release - Corner Brook, Canada: With picture perfect racing conditions, Laura Reback of the USA took the lead from the start of the 3 lap swim course in the 15oC pristine water of Glenn Mill Pond. Sharon Donnelly (Canada) and Siri Lindley (USA) were able to stay within a body length of Reback throughout the swim. . After 2 laps, the leaders had put 10 metres on a large chase group that included Kathleen Smet of Belgium, Jill Savege of Canada and Melissa Ashton of Australia.

Reback, Lindley and Savege were through the second transition first with a modest 10 second lead on the chase group which included Ashton, Smet, Donnelly, Sandra Soldan (Brazil), Liz Blatchford (USA) and Teresa Macel (Canada).

Siri Lindley and Laura Reback continued to lead through the first 2 laps of the 40km bike course, and at one point increased the gap to 35 second. However the strong cycling ability of Kathleen Smet and Sandra Soldan reeled in the leaders by the end of the 2nd lap. Teresa Macel, Brigitte McMahon (Switzerland), the 2000 Olympic Champion, Sharon Donnelly, Natalie Daumas (France) and Liz Blatchford were able to stay with Smet and Soldan and joined the leaders in the lead pack

Midway through the bike, the second pack which included Japanese champion Machiko Nakanishi, Natasha Filliol (Canada), Susan Williams (USA), Amanda Pagan (USA), Delphine Pelletier (France) and Melissa Ashton, seemed to be holding their ground in the chase group. However, with one lap left on the bike, France's Natalie Daumas, who had been sitting quietly in the lead pack suddenly came to life and led the charge up the big hill for the last time. Macel, Lindley, Smet, Blatchford, Reback and McMahon drifted back slightly, but were able to catch her through the downhill section.

Kathleen Smet led into the bike to run transition, with Daumas, Macel, Savege and McMahon close behind. Siri Lindley, had a slow transition, and exited at the end of the lead group in 9th place. She quickly made up the deficit and by the end of the 1st of 4 laps had a 25 second lead on Smet and Savege, and 40 seconds on McMahon and Blatchford.

Through the third and fourth lap, Lindley built her lead slightly over Smet and Savege, with Laura Reback putting in a strong performance and running into 4th place.

By the finish, Siri Lindley, the reigning Triathlon World Champion would have her day with the estimated 20,000 adoring fans in Corner Brook, and retain the Corner Brook World Cup title she also won in 2001. Canada's Jill Savege was 2nd and posted her first World Cup podium binish, while the current European Champion, Kathleen Smet of Belgium was third.

Top 10 results:
1. Siri Lindley, USA, 2:05:42
2. Jill Savege, CAN, 2:06:10
3. Kathleen Smet, BEL, 2:06:30
4. Laura Reback, USA, 2:07:22
5. Brigitte McMahon, SUI, 2:07:23
6. Liz Blatchford, USA, 2:07:36
7. Natalie Daumas, FRA, 2:07:50
8. Sharon Donnelly, CAN, 2:08:07
9. Nicola Spirig, SUI, 2:08:07
10. Teresa Macel, CAN 9:09:18

For complete results, video and photos see www.triathlon.org For further information please contact ITU Headquarters at: ituhdq@triathlon.org or Tel: 1.604.926.7250