Kiwi multisport athlete Sam Clark has notched his third and most comprehensive triumph in the Coast to Coast multisport race.
Clark won the iconic South Island race by nearly half an hour, proving too strong for the field over the closing kayaking and cycling legs.
Unlike last year, when Clarkneeded a powerhouse finish to overhaul former champion Braden Currie, the Whakatane athlete eased across the line at Sumner Beach with plenty of breathing room.
His winning time of 11 hours 14 minutes 33 seconds was too hot for second-placed Australian Alex Hunt, who crossed more than 29min later.
The 243km traverse which began on Kumara Beach near Greymouth was decided on the the 70km kayak leg.
Clark entered the Waimakariri River with a lead of little over two minutes, an advantage he had turned into a 14 minute edge over Hunt by the midway stage.
South African Robyn Owen was a comfortable women's winner, going one better than her runner-up finish in 2017.
She finished well clear of Kiwis Sophie Hart and Simone Maier.
Former two-time winner Hart made some headway over the closing stages in her return to the race following a five-year hiatus but she couldn't close the enormous gap forged by Owen.
Defending champion Elina Ussher finished further back, the 41-year-old denied what would have been a record-equalling fifth win.
- NZN
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