Triathlon: Williamson solid in comeback

1.00pm

New Zealand triathlete Evelyn Williamson made a solid comeback to international competition, finishing 19th in a World Cup race in Mexico today.

Williamson, of the Kapiti Coast, finished three minutes behind winner Carla Moreno, of Brazil, while Taupo's Shanelle Barrett was a further minute behind her compatriot in 25th place.

Both New Zealanders are seeking late selection for the team for the Athens Olympics, and need a top performance at the world championships in Portugal on May 8-9.

Williamson, a 2000 Olympian and 2002 Commonwealth Games competitor, was having her first major triathlon after surgery on a leg injury.

Both New Zealanders were in a big bunch off the bike on a flat multi-lap course at Mazatlan.

Moreno held off Germany's Anga Dittmer and Australia's Maxine Seear in a sprint finish.

Meanwhile, Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown finished ninth in the St Anthonys International at St Petersburg, Florida, today.

In his first Olympic distance race for four years, Brown finished four minutes behind Australia's Craig Walton.

Suffering from an ear and sinus infection after a long flight, Brown was well back out of the water but enjoyed a strong ride and run as he prepares for next weekend's St Croix International half ironman.

Elsewhere, Christchurch's Chris McAteer was the best New Zealander when finishing 10th at the Noumea International triathlon yesterday.

He finished ahead of Wellington's Sam Mallard, Christchurch's Eddie Smith and Auckland's James Elvery.

Results:

World Cup second round at Mazatlan in Mexico (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run): Simon Whitfield (Canada) 1hr 50min 31sec 1, Dimitri Gaag (Kazakhstan) 1:50.36 2, H Kemper (US) 1:50.37 3. Women: C Moreno (Brazil) 2:01.04 1, A Dittmer (Germany) 2:01.05 2, M Seear (Australia) 2:01.09 3. Also: EVELYN WILLIAMSON (NZ) 2:04.20 19, SHANELLE BARRETT (NZ) 2:05.18 25.

St Anthonys International triathlon in Florida (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run): Craig Walton (Australia) 1:50.47 1, Richie Cunningham (Australia) 1:51.38 2, Miles Stewart (Australia) 1:51.38 3. Also: CAMERON BROWN (NZ) 1:54.55 9.

Noumea international triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run): Patrick Verney (France) 1:53.07 1, Paul Matthew (Australia) 1:54.44 2, Alan Moran (Australia) 1:55.13 3. Also: CHRIS MCATEER (NZ) 2:00.30 10, SAM MALLARD (NZ) 2:01.51 11, EDDIE SMITH (NZ) 2:03.03 12, JAMES ELVERY (NZ) 2:06.46 14.

- NZPA