International Triathlon Union

The story in detail: It was a perfect day for triathlon in Corner Brook, Newfoundland   for the 6th stop on the 2003 World Cup: water temperatures just below 19oC,   with the weather overcast, 21oC, humid and a gentle breeze.

Sheila Taormina of the United States, a gold medallist in swimming from the   Atlanta Olympic Games moved immediately to the front of the 1.5km swim with   Sandra Soldan of Brazil, Jill Savege of Canada, Sylvia Gemignani of Italy and   American teammates Joanna Zeiger and Susan Williams all trying to stay with   Taormina in an effort to be in the lead group on the 6 lap 40km challenging   bike course.

By the swim to bike transition a group of 9 formed at the front led by Gemignani   who was first out of the water followed by Taormina. The group included all   of the leaders in the swim as well as Nina Anisimova of Russia, Teresa Macel,   and Kathleen Smet from Belgium - the 2002 European Champion. The chase group   was led out of the water by Canada’s Carol Montgomery and Emma Carney from Australia   over 40 seconds behind.

Taormina tried to break from the leaders on the 1st lap of the bike but was   soon reeled back as the lead group settled down and started to increase their   lead on the chase group that included many good runners. Susan Williams attempted   to breakaway on the 2nd lap, but was pulled back by Joanna Zeiger and Tereza   Macel.

On lap 4 Anisimova, Gemignani and Macel were dropped by lead group on the hill   and by the start of the bell lap were over 1 minute back and in danger of being   swallowed by the big pack led by Montgomery, Carney, Portugal’s Vanessa Fernandes   and Natalie Daumas from France.

After a quick bike to run transition, Taormina was 1st onto the 4-lap 10km   run course with Savege on her heels followed by Williams, Smet and Soldan. Joanna   Zeiger, riding with borrowed bike shoes crashed at the entrance to transition   and appeared to be injured, but gathered herself up and continued the run leg.

Despite a deficit of over 4 minutes, Carol Montgomery and Italian teammates   Beatrice Lanza and Nadia Cortassa soon settled into the hunt for the leaders.

After 2 laps on the run, Sheila Taormina and Jill Savege were still running   shoulder to shoulder at the front, with Susan Williams 10 seconds back. Kathleen   Smet was a further 10 seconds back in 4th with Sandra Soldan in 5th

Jill Savege put the pedal down on the final lap and ran home for her first   World Cup win of the season, 30 seconds ahead Sheila Taormina who was 2nd. Susan   Williams of the USA won her first podium finish by placing 3rd, with Sandra   Soldan of Brazil and Kathleen Smet of Belgium rounding out the top 5.

In the men’s event Australia’s Craig Walton took a predictable early lead in   the swim followed closely by Axel Zeebroek of Belgium and Marko Albert of Estonia.   Walton won World Cup titles on this course in 1998, 1999 and 2000 by taking   an early lead during the swim, then riding the challenging bike course alone   to build up a big enough lead to run home for the win.

By the end of the swim Walton had a lead of 20 seconds as he stormed through   the 1st transition.

Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty quickly found the solution to trying to get   a large chase pack organized by first breaking away and then working together   to bridge the gap to Walton. By the end of the 2nd lap Carter and Docherty had   caught Walton and the trio at the front turned into a solid unit that increased   their lead over the chase group on each of the remaining four laps.

The chase group also broke up as a workable group of 12 broke off the front.   This group included Simon Whitfield of Canada (winner of last weekend’s Edmonton   ITU World Cup) and perennial podium finisher Martin Krnavek of the Czech Republic   as well as a large group of Americans: Seth Wealing, Doug Friman, Michael Smedley,   Andy Kelsey, Joe Umphenour and Brian Fleischmann.

2001 World Champion Peter Robertson of Australia was meanwhile slipping out   of contention in the 3rd pack along with teammate Bryce Quirk and Canada’s Sebastian   LeFlamme.

By the bell lap the leaders had increased their lead to 2:32 and it appeared   as if the podium would be limited to the lead group of Walton, Carter and Docherty.   However, Craig Walton who came into this event suffering from a foot infection   was forced to withdraw from the event at the start of the run, leaving it up   to Carter and Docherty to fight it out for the top of the podium. Carter, who   hasn’t won a World Cup event since 2000 had a little more fire in his belly   on this day as he pulled away from Docherty on each of the 4 laps.

Simon Whitfield flatted on lap 4 of the bike and had to ride 2 laps on a flat   tire, which increased his deficit from the leaders after the bike to run transition.

Carter and Docherty’s lead was insurmountable for 1st and 2nd place, so attention   turned to the battle for the last podium step taking place further back in the   field. Michael Smedley and Martin Krnavek appeared most determined during the   first half of the race until Doug Friman moved up with the duo and Simon Whitfield   ran through the field into contention.

Although Whitfield stirred the home-country fans that lined the course into   a frenzy for their hero, it would be Doug Friman’s day to take his first ever   podium finish in a World Cup event almost 3 minutes behind Hamish Carter.

Hamish Carter was gracious in his victory praising the work done on the bike   by teammate Bevan Docherty and Craig Walton. “Craig was a “king-maker”   today - he worked as a real team player on the bike - none of us knew how much   pain and discomfort that he was in. There is no question that his efforts on   the bike made it possible for us to build up that lead”

Canada’s Minister of Sport, the Honorable Paul Devillier and Newfoundland’s   Premier Roger Grimes presided over the podium presentations.