She made a late decision to compete in the Island's newest triathlon event, but it paid off for Bermuda's Karen Smith as she secured victory in the SheROX women-only event on the South Shore.

Having finished third in her age category in the famous World Championship Hawaii Ironman, Smith was set to relax away from competition for the remainder of the year, but she changed her mind in order to experience the finale of the US-based SheROX triathlon series – a shorter 'sprint' version of full triathlon distance – staged yesterday for the first time in Bermuda.

Dawn had barely broken when the triple-discipline endurance race took to the ocean at the Fairmont Southampton's beach at 7 a.m. And it was former World Champion Karen Smyers who set the early pace and was first out of the water have completed the 800m swim in 11 minutes 41 seconds. Hot on her heels was 14-year-old sensation Gabriela Arnold, only six seconds adrift.

Smyers, who was first woman finisher in the sport's biggest event, the Hawaii Ironman, in 1995, was surprised to see another swimmer lead the way early on. The six-time US Champion said: "I got passed on the swim. There was a good girl swimmer, so I thought I'd follow her."

By the time they reached the beach Smyers was leading, but during the transition to the bike racks in Horseshoe Bay car park it was teenager Arnold who snuck ahead.

Smyers, 49, was carrying a calf injury, and had decided before the start to do only the swim and 20K bike segments. Her daughter Jenna King, 12, was waiting in the wings to run the final 5K as a mother-daughter pro-relay team.

Smyers' international experience showed as she flew out of the bike transition faster than the young Arnold.

However, eventual winner Karen Smith was bearing down having exited the water third fastest in the elite group, in 12.59.

Smith pedalled her way into second position, practically matching the pace of Smyers.

The bike course stretched along South Shore from Barnes Corner to Paget traffic lights and back to Horseshoe Bay.

Smyers clocked 35.04 and handed over to her daughter to complete the run. Smith, now the leader in the individual event, was closing fast.

The 5K took runners along South Road to the Reefs Hotel, returning to finish at Fairmont Southampton's beach club. Smith, 42, powered to a 20.59 run time, securing overall victory with a total time of 1.11.39.

Smyers' daughter Jenna, completing her first 5K, was next across the finish line. Second in the individual race was Kristyn Tobey, who chalked up a total time of 1.14.56, with Laurie Orchard next in 1.16.38. Teenager Gabriela Arnold, who briefly led from Smyers during the swim/bike transition, was fifth in the elite amateur section in 1.19.52.

Winner Smith said that on the bike segment, although she had been unable to close the gap she was pleased to have kept Smyers in her sights. She added: "Training for an Ironman is very different. In a race like this the threshold is different – I was at my maximum heart rate the whole time.

"I swam fairly well and I went well on the bike, then I just wanted to have a nice run. It was a solid race. There were so many people waving and encouraging.

"That's the thing with a women's event, you are actually out there in the lead. It was a very special feeling because you don't get that in the races where there are men up ahead, where the focus is on those in front.

"Today was different. I hope an event like this returns."

Former World Champion Smyers was competing in her fourth triathlon in Bermuda, having also raced on the Island in the 1980s, 1990s and a few years ago in the Escape to Bermuda event.

She borrowed a bike from event director Neil De Ste Croix for yesterday's race. Afterwards she said: "It was a beautiful course and great having the roads closed to traffic for the cycling."

Asked why she still enjoyed taking part in triathlons some 20 years after winning her first US national title, she said: "This sport is a lifestyle, and I love having sport in my life.

"With the three events you don't get bored, and it is great that this time I've been able to bring my whole family with me."