Triathlete Karen Smith is optimistic she can maintain her full slate of races despite a fall in a bike race at Clearwater yesterday.

While an arm injury will necessitate a few days' rest, she expects to compete in Memphis later this month as planned and thereafter continue her racing schedule as she bids to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in July.

"I should still be able to get there. I think I'll just be sore for a couple days. The doctor has advised that I take a few days to recover," said Smith, speaking after leaving hospital yesterday.

Explaining what happened in the race, she said the conditions were wet and slippery and that, as riders jostled in the pack, the rider directly in front of her went down.

"There was nowhere for me to go but right down with him. I'm fine though. I've been X-rayed and nothing is broken or fractured but there's a fair bit of road rash and quite a bit of swelling on my right elbow which got gravel in it."

While the rest may do her good, Smith noted "you don't want too much rest because then you start to lose speed and strength".

The national women's triathlon champion was fresh from highly creditable performance in last Sunday's Age Groups segment of the St. Anthony's Triathlon in Florida, USA. She placed first among Females 30-34 in 2:18.02 hours and was the tenth amateur woman overall.

"The race conditions were really tough. First of all the swim was an ocean swim but there were two and three-foot waves, quite choppy. When I came out of the water and looked at my watch I said `Wow, that's a bit off where I had hoped to be'. It was at least three minutes off the time I was aiming for," she said, reflecting on her effort.

However, Smith clocked the sixth-fastest bike ride among amateur women but then felt dehydrated as she completed final stage - the run - in very hot and humid conditions. Initially, she was disappointed with her overall time but realised it was "pretty good" when she saw other competitors' times and discovered the adverse conditions had affected everyone.

Bermuda's Kent Richardson also took part in Florida.

"I won the Masters overall," he said. "My time was 2:07.30. Last year I went 2:09 so I whacked a lot of time off. My last race was 2:10 so to take that much time off was great."

Richardson placed 17th overall. His next event is also Memphis where he is looking for a time of 2:05 to make the Commonwealth Games.