Whangarei's Sam Warriner added another podium finish to her accolades this year, with a third place at the Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island triathlon in the United States yesterday.
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone claimed the top prize in the quality elite men's class. Bozzone, 25, overtook leader Paul Ambrose from Britain
near the end of the 21km run and held off Australian Tim Berkel to win in four hours, 01min 15 seconds.
It was his fourth major win over the distance this year along with two second placings.
Warriner was third in the women's race after leading off the bike, but was run down by Australia's Kate Major and American Caitlin Snow on a tough course at Rhode Island.
Warriner spent most of the day at the front of the women's race, trailing defending champion Michellie Jones out of the water.
The 38-year-old Northlander quickly took command on the bike and enjoyed a one-minute buffer into the run over teammate, Kate Major, from Australia.
Major moved into the lead 5km from the finish and held off a fast finishing American Caitlin Snow with Warriner third, her fifth podium finish of the season.
"I led the race from start until three miles before the end of the run. I am pretty disappointed. Today (yesterday) I just didn't have a change of gear on the run," Warriner said.
