Stroke & Stride Race 5: New and familiar in winner's circle

That continued to be the story last Tuesday when Brent Foster again broke the tape first in the men's race, while the women's race saw a first-ever series win for Nicky Samuels.

The first leg out into the bay faced straight into a wind-stirred chop as the women got underway, with Debbie Tanner, race four's winner, exiting the water first, race director Craig Browne reported. She was just three seconds clear of World Cup ace and Olympian Anja Dittmer of Germany, taking a crack at the series while training in the Southern summer. Samuels was another three seconds back, and the trio had a nice lead in hand setting out onto the 4k run.

It was Samuels who, in her Stroke & Stride debut last time 'round, had finished just four seconds behind Tanner. This time, she moved quickly into the lead and held off all challenges to earn a clear win.

"After her stunning debut at Race #4, Nicky Samuels this week takes it to another level," Browne said. "On the back of her super-quick swim she then runs better than anyone to give herself a resounding victory over the classy opposition."

Tanner held on to second, with Dittmer third just two seconds back.

For the men, the chop only gave the flying Foster an opportunity to take advantage of his prodigious open-water skill and open up a lead of more than 30 seconds out of the water. He hit the beach in 9:11, with his nearest challenger, Ben Riley, out in 9:44. Once out onto the run, Foster hung tough as the fleet-footed among the bunch flung themselves at his lead only to find themselves coming up just short at the finish again. It was Clark Ellice again taking second with Hong Kong Olympian Daniel Lee, in his Stroke & Stride debut, in third.

"For the past four events we've witnessed Brent Foster grab an early lead during the swim which he then consolidates during the run on his way to victory—while Clark Ellice runs better than anyone, he still can't catch the Fozzie and takes the runner-up position," Browne said. "For race No. 5 the script hasn't changed one iota."

The race for the overall prize is tightening up with Foster and Ellice scrapping it out for the top place among the men while, among the women, it looks to be a three-way race between defending champion Nicole Cope, Samantha Warriner and Debbie Tanner.

The next race is Tuesday, February 8. There's more here.

RESULTS
Structured Finance Stroke & Stride Series, race 5
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005; St. Heliers Bay, Auckland, N.Z.
(750m swim/4k run)

WOMEN
1) Nicky Samuels (NZL) 25:52
2) Debbie Tanner (NZL) 26:14
3) Anja Dittmer (GER) 26:16
4) Carmel Hanly (NZL) 26:29
5) Nicole Cope (NZL) 26:44

MEN
1) Brent Foster (NZL) 23:07
2) Clark Ellice (NZL) 23:38
3) Daniel Lee (HKG) 23:48
4) Sam Walker (NZL) 24:08
5) Tom Hahn (NZL) 24:30