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Sam Warriner of New Zealand won the women's elite race at the newly renamed Salford BG Triathlon World Cup at Salford Quays today. After getting into a strong lead group in during the bike leg, Warriner, who celebrates her 35th birthday on Tuesday, broke into an immediate lead at the start of the run leg.
Britain's Liz Batchford led after the bike leg but a collision with a lapped athlete in the bike to run transition area allowed Warriner to take the lead. Blatchford faded during the run but her 7th place finish was enough to qualify for the World Championships in Lausanne on September 2.
Warriner was a world age group champion in 2001 and her career as a professional triathlete has been combined with full time teaching. One of her former pupils, Nicky Samuels also raced today.
Warriner commented: "This is a dream come true. It's my second World Cup win and with five weeks to go until the World Championships things are looking good. I got pushed out a bit during the swim and had to work hard to make the lead pack in the first 2km of the bike leg. Once I got out in front on the run I was able to relax a bit and enjoy it."
Originally from Farnham, Warriner moved to New Zealand eight years ago. Team mate Andrew Hewitt finished in third place with Brazil's Mariana Ohata in second.
Results - Women's Elite
1. Warriner, Samantha NZL, 2:04.27
2. Ohata, Mariana BRA, 2:04.51
3. Hewitt, Andrea NZL 2:04.55
7. Blatchford, Liz GBR, 2:05.47
12. Whitcombe, Andrea GBR, 2:06.54
Men's results to follow.
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