Docherty takes silver in triathlon

Bevan Docherty (pictured) finished 10 sec behind Australia's Brad Kahlefeldt. Picture / Mark Mitchell

A tireless Bevan Docherty surged to New Zealand's third Commonwealth Games triathlon medal in Melbourne today, his silver in the men's race adding gloss to the double success of Sam Warriner and Andrea Hewitt in St Kilda.

In another successful day for New Zealand's multisport athletes, Docherty, the Athens silver medallist to Hamish Carter in 2004, outlasted renowned Australian run specialist Peter Robertson to cross second behind his compatriot Brad Kahlefeldt.

Kahlefeldt loped out with 4km to travel and coasted to the line in one hour 49 minutes and 16.33 seconds, 10sec ahead of Docherty who had a 6sec advantage over Robertson when he was welcomed home by a vocal Kiwi contingent.

Olympic champion Hamish Carter and New Zealand's other entrant Kris Gemmell were sixth and fifth respectively.

"Just getting into a top three position was fantastic," Docherty said, draped in a New Zealand flag.

"I was hurting the whole way."

Once Kahlefeldt was certain of nailing Australia's first men's triathlon gold at Olympic or Commonwealth Games level, attention turned to the war of attrition between the trans-Tasman combatants.

Robertson made several attempts to surge clear but each time Docherty, the 2004 world champion, responded.

Finally with 500m to the finishing chute, Docherty left current world champion Robertson in his wake.

"I knew if I could get a surge on him on the last hill I had a chance and that's what happened.

"It's just mind games when you're in that position, it's just a matter of knowing they're hurting just as much as you.

"It's nice to win that little battle, silver is fantastic but it's becoming a bit of a trend."

Docherty knew he had little chance of reeling in Kahlefeldt once he hared off.

"When Kahlefeldt surged I thought this is the money shot. He got a good gap on me and he's in good running shape. Good on him for making the most of it."

In a mirror image of the women's race won by Australian Emma Snowsill, the key leg was the 10km run after a flat bike leg made breakaways impossible.

Carter and Gemmell were also in touch after the bike but steadily dropped away.

"I just didn't have the strength on the run," Carter lamented.

"I've only had two races in the last six months and that wasn't enough. It was just to fast a run for me.

"I'm not a lightning runner. I tend to run better when everyone's a bit more tired. It wasn't my course and wasn't my day."

Carter, 34, hinted the world championships in Switzerland in September would be the swansong of his glittering career.

- NZPA