Van der Kaay top NZ finisher in women's triathlon

Nicole van der Kaay, who competed so well in the Tokyo Olympics triathlon to earn 12th, produced a solid performance to finish ninth in Birmingham.

Van der Kaay, 26, was handily placed throughout the journey, but was unable to break through into the leading bunch. She finished in a time of 57min 24s, which was 1min 59s behind the winner, Flora Duffy of Bermuda.

Andrea Hansen (née Hewitt), who made a late run to gain selection for Birmingham, didn’t have the best of days. Hansen, winner of six world championship medals and two Commonwealth Games medals, was 18th in 59min 54s.

She never recovered from a slow swim that left her struggling for company in the cycling section.

It hasn’t been the easiest build-up for the New Zealand women’s triathletes - Ainsley Thorpe, the third member of the women’s squad, contracted Covid and was ruled out of the individual race.

However the triathletes are looking forward to the mixed race, having won a medal in the event four years ago on the Gold Coast.