In a stirring fight to the finish, New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone overtook Andrew Yoder of Columbia, Pa., near the halfway point of the 10k race around Centennial Lake to win the rainy 26th annual Columbia Triathlon Sunday. More than 2,000 triathletes participated.

Yoder, who finished second last year to Chris Lieto, had a one minute, 45 second lead following the 41k bike portion of the event but Bozzone, a strong runner, overtook him and then fought off the 20 year old to to win by 10 seconds.

Bozzone’s time (1:52:45) was well off the record Lieto’s set a year ago (1:51:13). Lieto did not run in this year’s race.

“Andy Yoder passed me on the bike ride like I was standing,” Bozzone said. “I found my legs midway through the run and was able to pass him.” The 24-year- old Aucklander finished second in this year’s New Zealand Ironman.

Yoder, who finished first as an amateur in the 2007 Columbia Triathlon has improved dramatically since then.

“I tried to stay with (Terenzo) after he passed me but he was strong. I cut into the lead near the finish,” he said.

Rebecca Wassner of New Platz, N.Y., repeated as champion of the women’s race, but her time (2:07:25) was much slower than the record she set a year ago (2:04:49).

“I pushed really hard because I knew that there was an undefeated athlete in the field,” said Wassner, a professional triathlete. She was referring to Chrissie Wellington, who finished a disappointing sixth among the females.

I just put my head down and just kept on pushing,” Wassner said. Her sister, Laurel, from Hoboken, N.J., was third behind Margaret Shapiro.

Rick Fesler of Camp Hill, Pa., and Beth Shutt of Natrona Heights, Pa., were the top male and female finishers among the amateurs.

Bozzone and Wassner both earned $5,000 for their victories; Yoder and Shapiro received $3,000 each. The total purse was $25,000.

More results can be found at www.tricolumbia.org.

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