Local triathletes in New Zealand Local triathletes in New Zealand (January 28, 2004)

It turns out that the hilly local trails made excellent practice courses for a grueling triathlon in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Bruce Smith, who coaches two of the competitors, Annie Carrino of Portola Valley and Kathy Felix of Woodside, said both women made impressive showings at the ITU World Triathlon's age group championships on December 6.

The course included a 1.5 km swim in the chilly Lake Hayes, a hilly 40 km bicycle course and a 10 kilometer race around the Millbrook Resort golf course that included two steep climbs, Mr. Smith said. Other competitors ran out of steam on the hills, but Ms. Felix and Ms. Carrino, accustomed to running in the local foothills, did not, he said.

Holly Nybo of Portola Valley took first place in the masters race with a time of 2 hours, 20 minutes, 44 seconds, winning the title of world champion for female masters.

Ms. Carrino finished in 7th place in the 40-44 age group, with a time of 2:29:26. She had missed the previous year's triathlon after being hit by a car while training and suffering a fractured ankle and a concussion, Mr. Smith said.

Ms. Felix, competing in her first world championship, placed eighth in the 55-59 age group with a time of 2:57:46.

Robert Plant of Woodside placed fifth in the 60-64 age group with a time of 2:37:02, and two Menlo Park residents finished in the 35-39 age group -- Aaron King placed 19th with a time of 2:12:57 and Andrea Smith placed 23rd with 2:36:25.

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