World number one ranked women's triathlete Sam Warriner is a late entry for Saturday's Contact Tri Series race at Takapuna.
The race is shaping as one of the best to ever have been held in New Zealand, certainly outside of World Championships and World Cup events this is clearly the best field ever assembled with 7 triathletes ranked inside the top 11 in the world on the start line and a clutch of other emerging stars ready to chase them down.
Warriner's entry sees four of the top ten women in the sport on current ITU rankings lining up for the live television event, with Debbie Tanner (#8), Andrea Hewitt (#9) and Lisa Norden (#7, SWE) set to fight it out. Not to be discounted though is South African Kate Roberts who at #40 in the world is also capable of mixing it with the higher ranked athletes.
Warriner is racing just two weeks after winning the Geelong 70.3 half Ironman and qualifying for the World 70.3 Championships in Florida later in the year. It will certainly be a real test of her endurance and versatility over the shorter course (500m swim, 16km bike, 4.65km run) around the streets of Takapuna.
In the men's race world number two Bevan Docherty and great mate Kris Gemmell (#4) are expected to fight it out but with Frenchman Laurent Vidal (#11) and a host of young New Zealanders on the start line on a tight and technical course, anything could happen.
The elite races are a finale to a day of triathlon celebration as the latest round of the Contact Tri Series comes to Takapuna, with full road closures on course from midday allowing everyone from the beginners in the Contact 3:9:3 to the elites live on TV from just after 4pm the freedom of a closed course.
A press conference will be held on Friday morning, with all media invited to attend to interview leading athletes and obtain information on the course and racing the following day.
Events on Saturday include:
Event 1 (Contact 3:9:3 Women) - 12.50pm (SOLD OUT)
Event 2 (Contact 3:9:3 Men) - 1.30pm (SOLD OUT)
Event 3 (Contact Trophy Women) - 2.10pm (SOLD OUT)
Event 4 (Contact Trophy Men) - 3.00pm (SOLD OUT)
Event 5 (Contact Cup Women) - 4.04pm 500m swim, 16km bike, 4.65km run
Event 6 (Contact Cup Men) - 5.07pm 500m swim, 16km bike, 4.65km run
The elite races will be covered live on TV ONE from 4pm with live updates and reports on Radio Sport throughout the afternoon.
