TRIATHLON - Red-hot Warriner shows no mercy | Northland Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Northland

Mike Gowing.John StoneBy the time Samantha Warriner finishes taking triathlons seriously, every male worth his salt will have had his ego well and truly tuned up.

Because, while a top-10 ranked world women's triathlete keeps calling Northland her home patch, there doesn't seem to be much hope for all the men.

Especially when it comes to competing for the annual Whangarei Olympic Distance Triathlon championship.

Warriner won the event held at One Tree Point south of Whangarei yesterday, smashing all-comers with a powerful display from start to finish.

The closest anyone got was at the start line where Warriner initially struggled to cope with the cold water for the first swim leg.

From there, everyone chased forlornly as she hammered her way to the win.

"I won and beat the men, that was the goal for the day," Warriner said.

"The closest time was 4m 45s behind me, so that was a pretty good feeling," she said.

Her first real stride out since changing coaches in the off season and beginning her new dieting and training regime, Warriner said it was a confidence boosting effort in testing conditions.

And just in case any of her vanquished male competitors are wondering, she plans on getting even quicker.

"I got out of the swim in the lead which, without a wetsuit, was quite pleasing because I really felt the cold for the first few minutes and took a while to get going.

"I held the lead in the bike then ran away from everyone in the run."

Warriner finished in 2hr:7min15sec, with Mike Gowing coming in second to ``win'' the men's title.

And it wasn't just Warriner's red-hot form in her first race of the season that had tongues wagging afterwards. The course also got a big plus mark - from Warriner in particular.

The cycle leg used roads in the new Hopper Development subdivision at One Tree Point and the run leg went off-road along the sand dunes toward Marsden Point and back.

"It is very testing and kind of quite good fun at the same time because the view as you cycle is of Mt Manaia and the run goes off-road which makes it quite difficult and interesting at the same time," she said.

Warriner's next event is the Mooloolaba Triathlon in Australia late next month.