Maier top woman home in multi event

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Central Otago News

A trio of Wanaka superwomen — Maier (4hr 06min 44sec), Misa Klaskova (4hr 22min 11sec) and Emily Wilson (4hr 25min 16sec) — battled at the front end of the field from start to finish, with Wilson the first woman off the water after the 25km kayak.

Just seconds separated the three females, but Maier got Wilson early in the 43km mountainbike stage and stormed off to record the second-fastest bike split (1hr 40min 04sec) of all individual competitors and fifth-fastest bike split of the day.

Klaskova bagged Wilson during the transition from bike to the 15km run and the pair then duelled for second and third women home.

Maier steadily pulled away to finish fifth overall, while Klaskova and Wilson earned top 20 places (15th and 18th respectively).

Maier also won the women’s race last year.

‘‘It was good turnout and I’m stoked it went ahead. A friend of mine yesterday said no-one will remember if you come second, only first, ha! So, I went hard today and came first.”

Coming first was not the be-all and end-all of racing, Maier and Wilson told the Otago Daily Times before the race.

They work multiple side hustles in a world where sponsorship, event viability and race scheduling is constantly under review.

Both are swimming instructors and lifeguards, Maier is also a landscaper and Wilson works in conservation, events, youth development and campaigns for diabetes charities.

Racing could not be about winning because they could not control who showed up, they said.

‘‘You can see if you are fitter than you have previously...