Courtesy: USAT

Paul Amey and Evelyn Williamson may have been the race winners, but New England residents Nick Radkewich and Karen Smyers were clearly the hometown favorites at the Monster Challenge Triathlon: Tri Boston, an International Triathlon Union points race Sunday in Boston.

Great Britain's Amey pulled away from Radkewich on the run to win the men's race in 1 hour, 43 minutes, 19 seconds. Radkewich (New London, N.H.) was second in 1:44:00 and Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla.) was third in 1:45:13.

Williamson, a New Zealander, had to run down Canada's Tereza Macel, who had a lead of over 2 minutes after the second transition. Williamson finally caught Macel in the last kilometer - on a steep hill - beating her by 9 seconds in 1:57:20. Smyers, a Lincoln, Mass., resident, was the first American female finisher and eighth overall.

It seemed fitting that in the land of the Boston Marathon - Marathon race director Dave McGillivray directed the triathlon and past Marathon winner Uta Pippig participated in the age group relay race - both races would come down to a run.

"I knew (Macel) ran a little slower, so I just went as hard as I could," Williamson said. "I didn't want to hold anything back."

Smyers, the reigning U.S. pro national champion, found herself well back of the leaders following the unusual two-lap swim around Boston Harbor.

The athletes started the race in the Harbor on the east side of the World Trade Center, swam around the Center, exited the water on the west side, ran through the Center and got back in the water again on the east. Both transitions were also inside the World Trade Center.

Smyers fell into the third pack on the bike, which didn't make up much time on Macel, or the second pack of about five.

"If I had known that other group was that far ahead (on the bike) I would have pushed the issue (on catching up)," said Smyers, who turned 40 on Saturday (Sept. 1). "I ran as hard as I could today."

Radkewich and Amey also had to use the bike to make up for lost time on the swim. They eventually caught and passed the lead pack, with Amey holding a slight lead as they left transition. Amey pulled ahead, finishing the run in 30:55. Fleischmann had the second fastest run of the day (31:24) to finish in third.

Radkewich, who had finished third behind Hunter Kemper and Fleischmann at the U.S. Pro Championships in New York on Aug. 12, was happy with his race and impressed by the crowd support in Boston.

"I don't think some people knew there was a race, but every time you'd come back around you'd see them cheering," he said.

Amey and Williamson each won $5,000 for the victory.

The elite race was preceded by an age-group sprint-distance race with about 600 entries. The age group racers each had to raise at least $500 for New England's Aids Action Committee, a support organization for those with the disease. Film actor and writer Matt Damon was at the race to support his brother Kent, who participated.

Monster Challenge

1.5Ks / 40Kb / 10Kr

Men

1. Paul Amey (Great Britain) 1:43:19; 2. Nick Radkewich (New London, N.H.) 1:44:00; 3. Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1:45:13; 4. Brent Foster (New Zealand) 1:45:16; 5. Alec Rukosuev (Apopka, Fla.) 1:45:22; 6. Marcin Wedlarski (Sweden) 1:45:26; 7. Carlos Probert (Mexico) 1:45:29; 8. Brian Lavelle (San Jose, Calif.) 1:45:46 ; 9. Mark Fretta (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 1:46:07; 10. Kevin Carter (Silver Springs, Md.) 1:46:26

Women

1. Evelyn Williamson (New Zealand) 1:57:20; 2. Tereza Macel (Canada) 1:57:29; 3. Samantha McGlone (Canada) 1:57:58; 4. Kathy Tremblay (Canada) 1:58:14: 5. Isabelle, Gagnon (Canada) 1:58:25; 6. Gillian Moody (Canada) 1:58:26 ; 7. Anne Marie Koszegi (Canada) 1:59:22; 8. Karen Smyers (Lincoln, Mass.) 1:59:43; 9. Christine Jeffrey (Canada) 2:00:35; 10. Laurie Hug (Ambler, Pa.) 2:00:40