Triathlon: Carter scores a bronze

11:55pm

Former world No 1 Hamish Carter has taken bronze in the men's Commonwealth Games triathlon, the New Zealander succumbing to Australian rival Miles Stewart in a final sprint to the line.

Carter was powerless to keep pace with Stewart as he pulled clear in the last 200 metres.

The duo trailed Olympic champion Simon Whitfield who obliterated the field with a staggering 10km run leg.

Carter, who won the 1993 World championships when they were held in Manchester, was assured of a medal after he and Stewart eclipsed bike leg pacesetter Chris McCormack halfway through the run.

The Aucklander tried to break away but Stewart stayed in his slipstream until overtaking on the bridge leading to the finish line at Salford Quays.

Earlier Kiwi-born McCormack and little-known Englishman Stuart Hayes set the tenor of the race with a dominant bike leg, which had the duo a minute clear of the chasing pack when the run began.

Kiwis Kris Gemmell and Craig Watson were also among the leading chasers but only Carter could sustain the pace over the run.

Whitfield's staggering pace swiftly reeled in Hayes and he then set his sights on McCormack, eventually grabbing the lead with more than a lap remaining.

The Canadian, who had a serious bike crash in April, provided his country's second triathlon gold, following Carol Montgomery's convincing triumph in the women's race earlier today.

The Australians, who had predicted a clean-sweep in both races had to settle for Stewart's silver and a bronze for Nicole Hackett.

- NZPA

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