Sam Warriner and Terenzo Bozzone rounded out a busy month of racing with runner up finishes at the Rev3Tri Olympic distance event at Knoxville Tennessee this morning NZT.
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| Terenzo Bozzone after the Rev3Tri race (Photo: Triathlon NZ) |
Julie Dibens (GBR) was a comprehensive winner but Warriner was delighted with her effort just a week after finishing second at the St Croix 70.3 half Ironman.
"My swim was okay, nothing startling but I had a strong bike to run and even managed a sprint finish so I am loving that everything is coming back. They have nicknamed me 'Silver Sam' over here, I'm not sure if this is good or bad but I'll take it as a compliment given my performances have seen me in the headlines a few times of late."
That sprint finish from Warriner was enough to hold out fast finishing Kelley Williamson (USA) as the American mounted a concerted challenge in sight of the finish line but couldn't overcome the determined Kiwi.
Bozzone's runner up finish was all the more impressive over the shorter distance event given he had to watch his chief competitors from the side of the road during a stand-down for violating America's controversial stagger rule and came of the bike in 6th.
Once off the bike, Matt Reed (USA) rocketed to the front and first reeled in Chris Lieto (USA) before getting past the Swede Bjorn Andersson. Lieto, nonplussed after suffering an uncharacteristic spanking on the bike, took a bit longer reeling in the big Nordic überbiker, finally forging past Andersson about 6km into the contest.
But Andersson was the least of his worries. The penalty notwithstanding, Bozzone first caught Cameron Dye, who actually also got a penalty for losing a bottle and not picking it up. Bozzone next caught Andersson, and with about 800m to go he caught up to Lieto, but the fleet-footed Reed was way too far in the front.
Reed took the win, Bozzone finished second and Lieto was third, and Andersson held on to fourth. Graham O'Grady (NZL) came home in 8th place.
Bozzone enjoyed the day, despite the frustration of the stand down.
"The horn went off at 7.45am and we were off. The water was so cold which made it hard for me to get going. Out of the water in 8th place which wasn't the start I was hoping for but knew I still had the bike and run to go.
"With a quick transition I was out onto the bike. I was feeling really strong and comfortable at this stage. Spinning well and getting into a good rhythm for the challenging 40km bike. But unfortunately half way through bike course I was controversially penalized with a 1 minute stand down. So off the bike on the side of the road for 1 minute which feels like forever with all of the other athletes passing by which can be soul destroying and race ruining but I wasn't going to let it get to me and kept striving for the perfect race which very nearly happened.
"I passed Chris Lieto into 2nd with 150m to go. It would have been an exciting race for the spectators without the 1 minute penalty as I was 45 seconds down on Matt Reed at the finish line.
"Congratulations to Matt Chris and Bjorn Anderson who finished 4th but came past me on the bike like I was standing still! All in all I had a great time here in Knoxville and Rev 3 put on an amazing race and I look forward to the next race of theirs in Quassy, Connecticut on 6th June."
Rev3Tri Series: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Elite Men
1. Matt Reed (USA) 1:51:55
2. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 1:52:42
3. Chris Lieto (USA) 1:52:48
4. Bjorn Andersson (SWE) 1:54:09
5. Cameron Dye (USA) 1:54:28
6. Brian Fleischmann (USA) 1:55:03
7. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 1:55:33
8. Graham O'Grady (NZL) 1:55:36
9. Jasper Blake (CAN) 1:55:49
10. Victor Zyemtsev (UKR) 1:55:56
Elite Women
1. Julie Dibens (GBR) 2:03:48
2. Sam Warriner (NZL) 2:07:04
3. Kelley Williamson (USA) 2:07:06
4. Pip Taylor (AUS) n/a
5. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 2:10:00
6. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 2:11:48
7. Jessica Jacobs (USA) 2:12:50
8. Laurel Wassner (USA) 2:13:22
9. Natascha Badman (SWI) 2:13:52
