highly promising year as they beat out tough overseas competition in Saturday's Tri-Gatorade triathlon held at the US Naval Air Station over the Olympic distance of 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run. This was an early season opener and the duo sent out a clear message that they will be the ones to beat in 1995.

Under clear skies and warm conditions, in a field of 23 teams and 29 individual competitors, Palmer placed an amazing third overall in 2:20.15 and came in before the first female team of swimmer Alicia Mullen, cyclist Maggie Hateley and runner Julia Hawley who were clocked at 2:21.41. De ste Croix, meanwhile, was some 20 minutes behind the winning men's team of swimmer Trevor Feguson, cyclist Greg Hopkins and runner Kavin Smith. Palmer's background from swimming gives her a head start in this multi-discipline sport as she represented Scotland in the 1986 Commowealth Games. Clearly pleased to have now qualified for the Triathlon World Championships in Cancun, Mexico later this year, she said that beating the first female team "was an added bonus.'' Of her swim where she was second individual out of the water, she said: "I felt like I was just going through the motions of swimming rather than swimming.'' Despite not wearing a wet suit, her strong swim saw her set off on the six loop bike course early and only Anna Coatsworth from the New York TriClub was faster -- by just nine seconds. Coatsworth, who was Palmer's only real challenge, came out of the water just one second behind the eventual winner, and their cycling duel set up an exciting race for the final 10K run.

Here, Palmer decided the outcome by running 44.35 for the two loop circuit, a time that was actually faster than that of second placed overall individual Mark Glusing. Palmer said of her run: "It was quite surprising because I haven't run so hard since the last triathlon in September.'' On qualifying for Cancun she added: "I wanted to get it under my belt in case something happened in July, like a puncture.'' In the men's individual race, de ste Croix was never challenged by any local or visitor. As had been expected, Russian Ross Galitsky of the TriClub was out of the water in a fast time -- almost three minutes ahead of de ste Croix -- but the local triathlete put in a blistering 1:06.09 bike ride that was the third fastest of the day behind Greg Hopkins and Richard Mason who were both on teams. Galitsky was faced with a two minute deficit behind the winner at the start of the run and a wrong turn cost him dearly as he eventually had to settle for fifth overall. He turned round too early after the first loop and it was some time before he realised his error.

Glusing put in his best performance ever in a local race and the 24-year-old triathlete who has completed two Ironman events is looking ahead to other races. In three weeks he heads to Switzerland to compete in the Powerman which consists of a 12K run, 130K bike and 30K run. Glusing describes this duathlon type race as the "Ironman of Europe.'' His best time for the standard Olympic triathlon, such as the Tri-Gatorade, is around 2:06 which he achieved a couple of years ago in Whistler, Canada.

Of his performance on Saturday he commented: "I've never been in a position to be in second place, so I didn't really know what to do! "Neil is such a great triathlete that I don't know if I would have caught him even if he had been closer.'' Glusing was another competitor who was out of the water before de ste Croix, but even his second fastest individual bike leg of 1:10.34 was not enough to put him in the lead at the start of the run.

The muscular Glusing is hoping one day to run the gruelling Western States 100 miler in California -- a trail race which is the "Boston'' of ultra races.

"I'm not a short distance specialist'', he added.

For de ste Croix and Matthew Trim who placed 18th individual, Saturday was a warm-up for another Olympic distance triathlon next weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida which is a US season opener with an estimated field of 1200 to 1600.

As expected, the team of Trevor Ferguson, Greg Hopkins and Kavin Smith walked away with honours. This was even clearer as their times for each respective event were the fastest of the day with Hopkins over five minutes ahead of second fastest cyclist Mason. The first junior team consisting of swimmer Craig Ferguson, cyclist Kris Hedges and runner Mark Constable put in a fine performance to place fifth overall. This was helped by the cycle of Kris Hedges who was clocked at 1:10.00, seventh fastest of the day.

Jeremy Ball was first master and sixth overall in 2:23.15. There were no female masters in the event, and likewise no competitors in the senior masters (50 ) age group.

Despite a relatively small field, this first triathlon of the season brought out some encouraging performances and the 25 or so New York TriClub athletes added further interest. Ross Galitsky and Anna Coatsworth were the highest placed visitors finishing fourth and fifth overall respectively. The following local triathletes have now qualified for Cancun: Shona Palmer, Melanie Claude, Neil de ste Croix, Mark Glusing, Jeremy Ball, Jim Butterfield and Steven Petty. The second qualifier will be held in July.

THEY'RE OFF! -- Competitors in Saturday's triathlon at the USNAS, St. David's, hit the water at the start of the three discipline event.

SHONA PALMER -- beat the first female team