Triathlon: Fourth place for Kiwi in Germany

ROTH, Germany - Christchurch triathlete Karyn Ballance finished fourth in the Quelle Challenge ultra distance race in Germany today.

The Canterbury podiatrist fell behind in the swim and ride before a strong run saw her up to fourth and only five minutes from second place in the ironman-distance race in Roth.

The 2002 Ironman New Zealand champion was the best placed of the New Zealanders, with Stephen Sheldrake (Gisborne) fading badly after leading out of the water and Bryan Rhodes (Taupo) withdrawing after a mechanical problem on the bike.

The fastest Kiwi was Swiss-based Aucklander Greg Donovan with a personal best 9hr 13min, while former Taupo triathlete Tara-Lee Marshall did not start after a recurrence of a back ailment that flared up last month.

It was a double celebration in the Leder household with Lothar outsprinting Australian Chris McCormack to win the men's race, and wife Nicole producing a stunning 2hr 57min 50sec marathon to win the women's title in front of their adoring German fans.

"I just toughed it out today," Ballance said after the race.

"I had a slow swim even for me and I just never flew on the bike today. The roads here are fantastic but I never managed to feel great.

"I was quite happy with the run but I was too far back to play a real part in the race."

Ballance said while the race did not go to plan, she was pleased to experience the atmosphere of the Roth race that attracted 100,000 spectators.

"The atmosphere was quite incredible, On the 1km climb up the Solarburg Hill the crowds were 10-deep on both sides of the road. It was quite amazing feeling."

She fell 12 minutes behind Heike Funk after the 3.8km swim with the German extending that advantage to seven minutes over her closest rival and 20 minutes over Ballance after the 180km bike.

The Kiwi clawed back 15 minutes on Funk and nine minutes of third placed Erica Csomor (Hungary) during the 42km marathon run, to clock 9:33:24 for fourth. However Leder produced a supreme run to hit the front before the halfway mark on the marathon.

Sheldrake led the men's field by two minutes out of the water before being caught after 70kms by Leder and McCormack on the bike. As the Kiwi faded the favoured pair rode together, and while Leder pushed clear twice during the run, the pair were separated by a sprint finish over the final 100m.

- NZPA