Nicky Samuels, New Zealand in the elite womens event at the ITU World Cup. Photo / Ross Setford
On the face of it, 39th doesn't seem that impressive for Nicky Samuels at the ITU world triathlon series in San Diego but she achieved the result less than three weeks after undergoing emergency surgery on an abscessed appendix.
Samuels was the only Kiwi to complete the women's race, with
Debbie Tanner pulling out after the 1500m swim. World No 2 Andrea Hewitt and Kate McIlroy, who have both been confirmed for the New Zealand team for London, didn't compete.
Samuels had better reason than most to finish as high as she could. She wanted to ensure New Zealand women picked up more points to leave them in the top eight-ranked nations overall.
As the third woman in New Zealand's Olympic team behind Hewitt and McIlroy, it is Samuels' spot which would vanish should New Zealand slip outside the top eight before the cut off for the qualification period on June 8.
Samuels crossed the line just over six minutes behind Great Britain's Helen Jenkins, who was in a class of her own. Jenkins finished one minute and five seconds ahead of Australia's Erin Densham with American Laura Bennett another 45 seconds behind in third.
