Mixed team 4th but satisfaction for Wilde

BIRMINGHAM: The New Zealand team fell just short of the podium in the triathlon mixed relay yesterday, but Hayden Wilde at least earned some satisfaction.

Two days after Wilde had been denied the chance to sprint for gold in the men’s race at the Commonwealth Games, the 24yearold was back at the scene of the crime to lead off the team event.

Wilde had New Zealand in second after his opening leg, trailing a rather familiar foe in England’s Alex Yee, and the Kiwis remained in that position following Nicole van der Kaay and Tayler Reid’s turns to complete their supersprint triathlons.

Veteran Andrea Hansen was the fourth and final athlete away and, although England had essentially wrapped up gold, she formed with Wales and Australia a threeway duel for the minor medals heading into the run.

But Hansen, part of the team which won bronze four years ago, could not keep touch on the 2km run, crossing the line 11sec behind Wales in second and 8sec off Australia in third.

Wilde was proud of the way his teammates had executed their game plan, even if he was unable to add to the silver he claimed on the opening day of the Games.

That medal could still turn gold pending the outcome of an official protest lodged by Triathlon New Zealand, after Wilde had been adjudged to have prematurely removed his helmet in the transition area, copping a crucial 10sec time penalty.

But any lingering pain over an incident he described at the time as a ‘‘stitchup’’ was consoled by one moment after today’s bike leg.

‘‘When I took my helmet off, the guy that gave me the penalty was there,’’ Wilde said. ‘‘I gave him the death stare and looked right into his eyes, and made sure I did it properly, just for him.

‘‘That was quite a funny little thing.’’ —