28 Jun 2009

Gemmell close in Iowa

11:31 am on 28 June 2009

Palmerston North's Kris Gemmell has finished in fourth place, an agonising two metres from victory at the rich Des Moines World Cup Triathlon in Iowa.

In yet another stunning sprint finish for the sport, six athletes sprinted for the finish line together.

Fellow New Zealander and one of the pre-race favourites Bevan Docherty was forced to withdraw early on the run, having not overcome the illness that also forced him out in Washington a week ago.

Andrea Hewitt fell just one lap short of a podium finish in the women's race, tiring over the final two and a half kilometres to finish sixth.