Triathlon: Canadian Presence felt in Ishigaki ITU World Cup Opener

The 2004 ITU World Cup Season kicked off today in Ishigaki, Japan. Maxine Seear (AUS), who has already been named to the Australian Olympic team came from behind and outsprinted Michelle Dillon (GBR) in the finish chute for a thrilling conclusion to the women's race. Kiyomi Niwata (JPN) delighted home country fans with a third place finish. Montreal's Samantha McGlone was the top Canadian - she posted a fantastic run split to finish 8th overall and Victoria's Suzanne Weckend made her presence felt in her first ITU World Cup - leading the swim and maintaining a front position on the bike.

Weckend is testing the waters in her first season on the ITU World Cup tour and is creating waves. A former Canadian National swim team member, she was first out of the temperate water of Tonoshiro Bay but was passed by Great Britain's Annaliese Heard into the first bike transition. Onto the bike Heard and Weckend were caught by a larger pack but Weckend stayed with the group and was the fourth athlete off the bike, in a pack of about 18 athletes. About a minute and a half behind the lead pack, Montreal's Samantha McGlone was leading the chase pack.

Michelle Dillon led onto the run and there was an Olympic Qualifying spot on the line for her as the British team was using Ishigaki as a qualifying event - she was passed by Maxine Seear in the finish chute but still claimed an Olympic spot.

Barrie Ontario's Tara Ross finished 41st overall - she had a great swim andsolid bike but struggled on the run; St. Albert, Alberta's Carolyn Murray also had a strong swim but had difficulty on the bike and didn't finish the race; Natasha Filliol - the top Canadian entered in the race was not feeling well prior to the event and was also unable to finish.

No Canadian men travelled to Ishigaki but Bevan Docherty (NZL) claimed the top spot and was followed across the line by Dimitry gaag (KAZ). Paul Amey (GBR) claimed the final podium position and an Olympic qualifying spot. Docherty and Gaag have already qualified for the Olympic Games.

Complete photos and stories are also available on www.triathlon.org.

From TriathlonCanada.com.