SWITZERLAND, Lausanne - American Sarah McLarty and Richard Stannard from Great Britain have just won the 2006 ITU Aquathlon World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a preview of this weekend's ITU Triathlon World Championships, two hundred athletes dawned their wetsuits for a 1,000 metre swim in the green waters of Lake Geneva. This was followed by a two-lap, five kilometre run along the Lausanne boardwalk in front of the Olympic Museum.

The American McLarty used her swimming strength to win her first-ever Aquathlon World Championships in a time of 30:49. Canadian and Under23 competitor Elspeth McGregor finished second with Great Britain's Maria Barrett taking the final podium spot. Their times were 31:23 and 32:10 respectively.

As expected, McLarty used her open water swimming skills to gain an early and insurmountable lead of 53 seconds after the swim segment in Lake Geneva. Second out of the water were McGregor and Emma Davis from Great Britain. But there was no catching McLarty as she continued to hold her gap for the two-lap run, cruising home to make back-to-back wins for the USA after Sheila Taormina's triumph in Gamagori, Japan last year.

Barrett was able to run herself into third place after coming out of the swim 30 seconds down.

It was Great Britain's Richard Stannard who claimed the gold medal in a time of 27:59, just beating out Daniel Lee Chi Wo from Hong Kong and Clarke Ellice from New Zealand. Lee Chi Wo and Ellice finished second and third with times of 28:03 and 28:06, respectively. Stannard was hungry for the title this year after settling for second last year to his team mate Tim Don in Gamagori.

Immediately from the starter's horn, Stannard moved to the lead and pulled a small group of men through the 1,000 metre swim course. Stannard exited the water with a small group including Lee Chi Wo, Steffen Justus (GER), Harry Wiltshire (GBR), Matt Hopper (AUS) and Clayton Fettell (AUS).

This pack blasted out of transition and onto the run course pacing each other for the first kilometre. This was the case until Stannard, Lee Chi Wo and Justus pulled away half way through the first lap.

A quickly approaching Ellice prompted Stannard to make his move with 400 metres to go, out-kicking Lee Chi Wo to the line. Ellice managed to erase most of a 40 second deficit after the swim, with the fastest run split of the day, to finish third.

2006 ITU Aquathlon World Championships - Elite and junior women.

1. Sara McLarty (USA) 30:49
2. Elspeth McGregor (CAN) 31:23
3. Maria Barrett (GBR) 32:10
4. Carmel Hanly (NZL) 32:17
5. Emma Davis (GBR) 33:45
6. Tania Mak So Ning (HKG) 34:15
7. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 34:23
8. Tayla Glover (RSA) 35:06
9. Jordan Lyons (USA) 38:46
10. Vanessa Butty (SUI) 41:19

2006 ITU Aquathlon World Championships - Elite and junior men

1. Richard Stannard (GBR) 27:59
2. Chi Lee (HKG) 28:03
3. Clark Ellice (NZL) 28:06
4. Greg Bullington (USA) 28:13
5. Steffen Justus (GER) 28:22
6. Harry Wiltshire (GBR) 28:36
7. Matt Hooper (AUS) 28:40
8. Joe Umphenour (USA) 29:00
9. Andrew Tarry (GBR) 29:02
10. Ben Pulham (NZL) 29:12