Kahlefeldt Class Act : trifuel.com

Kahlefeldt Class Act

Source: Editor

Commonwealth Champion Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia won a spectacular men's elite race at the newly renamed Salford BG Triathlon World Cup at Salford Quays today. The Commonwealth champion stayed in the front pack and cruised into the lead at the half way point of the run section in front of the biggest World Cup crowd ever seen.

Britain's European Under 23 Champion, Will Clarke, recorded his best ever result with bronze to underline his huge potential.

This was Kahlefeldt's fourth visit to Salford but first time on the winner's podium.

He commented: "I felt great today. I got into the lead group and really pushed on the pace. I felt strong on the run leg and kicked it on after half way. This is my fourth visit to Salford and I've never made the podium. To finally win is fantastic."

Clarke finished in third place behind the world champion Peter Robertson who had to settle for silver behind his Australian teammate.

Clarke commented: "This is really unexpected and I'm absolutely delighted. I made a bit of a mistake in the run. I had it in my head that it was a three-lap run so when I overtook Robertson on the third lap I thought I'd gone into second place. I thought I'd got him but then I saw one more lap to go and I thought 'you are absolutely kidding.'"

Sam Warriner of New Zealand won the women's elite race at the. After getting into a strong lead group in during the bike leg, Warriner, who celebrates her 35th birthday on Tuesday, broke into an immediate lead at the start of the run leg.

Britain's Liz Batchford led after the bike leg but a collision with a lapped athlete in the bike to run transition area allowed Warriner to take the lead. Blatchford faded during the run but her 7th place finish was enough to qualify for the World Championships in Lausanne on September 2.

Warriner was a world age group champion in 2001 and her career as a professional triathlete has been combined with full time teaching. One of her former pupils, Nicky Samuels also raced today.

Warriner commented: "This is a dream come true. It's my second World Cup win and with five weeks to go until the World Championships things are looking good. I got pushed out a bit during the swim and had to work hard to make the lead pack in the first 2km of the bike leg. Once I got out in front on the run I was able to relax a bit and enjoy it."

Originally from Farnham, Warriner moved to New Zealand eight years ago. Team mate Andrew Hewitt finished in third place with Brazil's Mariana Ohata in second.

Results - Men's Elite
1. Kahlefeldt, Brad AUS, 1:54.31
2. Robertson, Peter AUS, 1:54.44
3. Clarke, William GBR, 1:54.46
6. Stannard, Richard GBR, 1:54.48

Results - Women's Elite
1. Warriner, Samantha NZL, 2:04.27
2. Ohata, Mariana BRA, 2:04.51
3. Hewitt, Andrea NZL 2:04.55
7. Blatchford, Liz GBR, 2:05.47
12. Whitcombe, Andrea GBR, 2:06.54