Triathlon: Dunster claims series with second win

Rotorua's Lydia Hale was the first woman home. Photo / Stuart Whitaker

Aiden Dunster made it two wins from three starts in Sunday's Coronation Classic triathlon at Mount Maunganui, the final round of the Eves Triathlon Series.

A fourth in the first race, December's Surfbreaker, plus the two victories, also gives him the series title.

Dunster was leading the title race before yesterday morning's event.

"Once I knew I was leading I wanted to win it," he said.

Finishing just shy of an hour, Dunster once again beat Hamilton's Adam McCarthy (1h 43s) to the line, with late entrant Peter Campbell third.

Dunster's attention now turns to the ITU World Triathlon event in Auckland on March 28 and then the Xterra multisport race in Rotorua on April 11, from which the Papamoa athlete hopes to qualify for the world championships in Hawaii.

Rotorua's Lydia Hale has had a late start to the triathlon season, marking her first of the year with a win in the women's race.

"It was a good start to the season - even if it is a bit of a late start," she said. "I am at the age where all my friends are getting married."

Hale has competed at world age-group level for the past two seasons, suffering a disqualification on a technicality in Edmonton last year and finishing fourth in 25-29 age group in the London event the year before.

She is now targeting the Dual Motutapu-Rangitoto Traverse on March 21.

"My off-road riding isn't as good as my road riding, but I'll give it a go."

Sara Backler was second in the women's race, with Matilda Lawrence third.

Other results:

Intermediate School age, boys: 1, Connor Farrell 2, Ben Clarke 3, Nathan Cook. Girls 1, Olivia Cummings 2, Emma Barrott 3, Erin Machaj.

Secondary school age:

Junior boys:1, Fergus Hamilton 2, Nick Wotton, 3, Harry Low. Junior girls: 1, Grace Blissett 2, Madeline Gash 3, Annabel Averill.

Intermediate boys 1, Ryan Young 2, Sam Cook, 3 Jamie Shields. Intermediate girls 1, Charlotte Dingemans 2, Emily Kneale, 3 Caitlin Hoskin.

Senior boys: 1, Kaleb Smith 2, William Van Loom, 3 Simon Wild. Senior girls: 1, Paige Francis-Monrad 2, Ellen Lellman.

Teams: 1, Rosies Crew 2, Skuxx 3, Katikati College.

Super sprint: Males: 1, Jarrod Board 2, Nick Ferguson 3, Aaron Duggan. Female: 1, Kylee Martin 2, Emma Whiteford 3, Deirdre Burrows.