Jamie Brown and Deanna McMullen handled the hot and humid conditions and the competition yesterday to emerge as the respective men?s and women?s AON national sprint triathlon champions.

Brown, fresh from his excellent age group performance at last month?s World Triathlon Championships, started the men?s race as a slight favourite but as expected it was some of the younger competitors who finished the 750 metre swim ahead of him.

Eighteen year-old Matthew Herring and Coyatito Smith (16) were first out of the water closely followed by Matthew Godfrey (15) and Khamari Greaves (16) as defending champion Geoffrey Smith failed to show up on the starting line.

Sixteen year-old Flora Duffy finished the swim with the lead men and as expected started the bike almost three minutes ahead of McMullen.

Riann Naude, who had been tipped as the most likely athlete to upstage Brown, trailed the leaders on the swim and wasn?t able to make any significant inroads into Brown?s lead on the bike.

Brown proceeded to slowly reel in Smith and Greaves on the four-lap 20 kilometre bike course and the three of them jostled for position until Brown moved away on the third lap and went in search of Herring who he eventually caught 200 metres from the transition.

Naude then caught Smith ? who had been looking much improved on the bike ? and Greaves going into transition with all three a minute behind Brown with former national triathlon champion Neil de ste. Croix, who trailed badly after the swim, a further 45 seconds back after a strong bike leg.

Meanwhile, in the women?s race McMullen began to make inroads into Duffy?s lead on the bike leg but was still one minute and 12 seconds behind going into the run.

On the first lap of the four-lap five kilometre run, Brown struggled to find his rhythm as the heat and humidity began to take its toll while Naude, who last Monday ran a 15:38 5K in the World Duathlon Championships after a 10K run and 40K bike, started strongly.

Greaves dropped out early on the first lap while Smith hung on gamely, soon catching Herring but knowing that de ste. Croix would most likely be closing the gap.

By the second lap Brown had recovered his poise and although Naude was picking off the seconds it soon became apparent that he would run out of real estate before catching Brown.

Behind the two front runners an intriguing battle was developing for third place as de ste. Croix began to dramatically close the gap on Smith despite the fact that the youngster was running well.

Among the women it soon became clear that it was only a matter of time before McMullen would catch Duffy.

Naude cut the gap at the finish to 39 seconds but it was a tired but happy Brown who took a deserved victory in 1:05:51 with Naude second in 1:06:30.

With half a lap to go Smith?s lead was down to just 11 seconds over de ste. Croix but the youngster held on to finish third overall in 1:07:41, just one second ahead of de ste. Croix (1:07:42). Norbert Meyer placed fifth in 1:10:17.

Once McMullen caught Duffy she quickly opened the gap to take top honours in 1:13:47. Duffy had to settle for second in 1:17:00 with Karen Madeiros third in 1:20:34.

Caroline Mitchell placed fourth in 1:21:16 and first-time triathlete Joanna Shillingdon fifth in 1.21.37

The team event was dominated by the trio of Darren Woods, Kent Richardson and Logan Alexander who finished in 1:02:23 with top company honours going to PWC Springboks (Richard Van Lienden, national duathlon champion Evan Naude and runner Tim Goodyer) in 1:05:50.

The female division was won by Shona Palmer, Kim Mason and Derby Marathon champion Anna Eatherley in 1:12:57.

Earlier in the day over 30 Beginner Triathletes, the largest field ever in this event, competed over a 150 metre swim, 5K bike and one kilometre run with Philippe Consentino taking top men?s honours and Susan Edney first among the women and third overall.

Full results and further details on the junior races will follow later in the week.