3 minute read
Queensland's Luke Willian has finished with a sizzling run to clinch victory at the New Plymouth leg of the World Cup triathlon series.
Australian triathlete Luke Willian has claimed a second career win on the World Cup circuit after seeing off a field in New Plymouth that featured Spanish great Javier Gomez.
The 22-year-old Willian stormed home with the fastest run time on Sunday to clinch the sprint distance race, five seconds clear of second-placed German Justus Nieschlag.
Gomez was fifth, 13sec behind Willian, in the five-time world champion's first race for almost two years over the Olympic short format, having focused recently on long distance racing.
Queenslander Willian, whose other World Cup win came two years ago in Mooloolaba, was on the pace throughout the 750m swim leg and 20km bike.
A sharp 5km run time of 14 minutes 32 seconds was enough to reel in fading Kiwi leader Hayden Wilde near the finish.
Australian Jaz Hedgeland was third in the women's race, nine seconds behind Italian winner Angelica Olmo.
New Plymouth hosted the third stop on the 15-leg World Cup circuit.