Duathlon: Dynamic duo cap good day for Kiwis

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

A storming run over the last leg of 2.5km carried Auckland's Terenzo Bozzone to a repeat victory in the world junior duathlon championships in Atlanta.

But only after officials had stalled his bid by calling him back and slapping him with a 10s-15s penalty for removing his helmet too quickly after the cycle leg.

His victory capped a good day for New Zealanders, with Papamoa's Annie Oliver winning her age group at the championships.

Bozzone, defending the title he won a year ago in Italy, was just 02s off the pace in fourth place after the opening 5km run, and flew past early leader Hugo Fortuna (Portugal) on the 20km cycle section to build a handy lead.

But when he was called back and told to put his helmet back on and then take it off again, his lead was trimmed as he headed into the final leg.

Bozzone ran 7m 45s for the 2.5km to beat another Portuguese, Sergio Silva by 13s, but by just 06s overall.

Czech Petr Kasl was third, 14s back.

As a 17-year-old, Bozzone, head boy at Rangitoto College, has the chance of a three-peat next year but has yet to make a decision on that.

He said the pressure of defending his title this year made the Atlanta race a bigger challenge.

Bozzone will now join the New Zealand triathlon team in Orlando to prepare for next month's world championships in Cancun, Mexico.

Oliver won the 25-29 years age group - 10km run, 40km cycle, 5km run - by 1m 43s and finished second overall in the strong women's field, 56s behind American Amanda Gillam.

The writing was on the wall for Oliver's rivals three days before the big race even began.

Oliver had a feeling it was going to be her week when she registered for the championships and was handed the No 1 bib to attach to her race kit.

"I don't know why I got that number, but I said it would equal the finishing order in the race," Oliver said after receiving her gold medal.

"I am so blown away. It is an awesome buzz, but I don't think it has really sunk in yet.

"I've got a nice big gold medal but, better than that, enormous personal satisfaction."

Oliver was part of a 15-strong contingent from New Zealand who qualified via the national championships in Rotorua in May to contest the various elite and age-group classes over layouts involving a running section on either side of a cycling leg.

The 25-year-old, who quit her job as an assistant supervisor at Tauranga YMCA to travel to the duathlon and the world triathlon championships, ensured she had every chance of success by muscling her way to the front of the field for the start.

"I thought I would take the race up to them," she said.

"The duathlon is my main focus and I really wanted to do well."