Lessing retains title

NEW YORK, July 26: At an hour when the city that never sleeps was at least stifling a yawn, 25 young men dived into the murky waters of t...

NEW YORK, July 26: At an hour when the city that never sleeps was at least stifling a yawn, 25 young men dived into the murky waters of the Hudson river. Nearly two hours later, on a clear bright morning yesterday in central park, Briton Simon Lessing strode away from the field to retain the Goodwill Games men8217;s Triathlon title.

Soon after, as reggae music pounded courtesy of soul judgment and old ladies walked their poodles, Australia8217;s Loretta Harrop won the women8217;s race and the latest sport on the summer Olympic programme had made its mark on Manhatten.

Braving the water, a strong early morning current and a recent infestation of jelly fish, the men8217;s and women8217;s fields swam 1.5 km with the statue of liberty in the background.

They cycled 40 kms along wall street, past the united nations to broadway and then to central park for three long and one short loops.

The event finished with a 10 km running race through central park, on the roadway usually commandeered by joggers, skaters andcyclists.

Lessing, a nephew of novelist Doris Lessing, needed only to stay in touch with the leaders in the swim and bike ride to win. The four times world champion was second out of the water, among the top trio in the bike and used his superior stride and speed to full advantage in the 10 km run to defeat Australian Craig Walton by nine seconds.

Harrop, a former butterfly swimmer who turned to the Triathlon after missing out on the Australian national team for the last Commonwealth Games, shared the lead in the first two disciplines with American Barb Linquist.

Story continues below this ad

Linquist, winner of a silver medal in the 400 metres freestyle at the 1987 Pan American Games, found central park less to her liking than the Hudson river and faded to fourth.

Harrop liked the water, loved the crowds and can now look forward to the 2000 Olympics in her native city Sydney. The women8217;s Triathlon is the first event on the programme in a country which worships the outdoor life and relishes each of the individual sports in theTriathlon.