Top Australian and New Zealand Triathletes hit the course in Port Douglas again on Saturday for the Oceania Triathlon Cup sprint race.

Coming out on top in the Elite Men’s race was World Championship and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Matthew Hauser who finished off the triathlon domestic season with a commanding win.

The 23-year-old from Hervey Bay, broke away from the field on the 5km run, to assert his position among Australia’s new generation of elite males.

Hauser was second out of the 750m swim at Four Mile Beach behind Tokyo bound-New Zealander Taylor Reid.

And after the first of four laps on the 20km bike leg it was Reid, Hauser and eventual third placegetter, ACT’s Callum McClusky.

By the end of the run leg, there was no catching Hauser. In ideal race conditions in the warm Far North Queensland winter, Hauser charged to the finish well ahead of Reid and McClusky.

“That was just about the perfect race for me,” said Hauser.

“The main aim was to enjoy that course up here in Far North Queensland, have fun, stay safe and finish off with a strong run at the finish.

“There was certainly a strong field with a lot of my training partners and it was so pleasing to get that result, especially in front of my family and friends.

“We’ve been preparing for this race up here in Cairns and Port Douglas and certainly the place to be.”

In the Elite Women’s race, the former surf lifesaving ironwomen Kelly-Ann Perkins held on to take out a thrilling sprint finish from fast-finishing fellow Queensland-based WA girl Kira Hedgeland with Kiwi Tokyo Olympians Ainsley Thorpe and Nicole Van Der Kaay fourth.

It capped off Perkins best season yet, a testament to the dedication and perseverance over the past three years after a three-month lay-off with injury just 18 months after starting her triathlon career.

“It was a solid performance all round – I was comfortable in the swim – it was just about getting in a good position in the lead pack and there were some surges in that 20km bike leg,” said Perkins who has set her sights on next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“But that run leg was a lot closer than what I thought it was going to be with five of us going for it in the end over the last 200m.

“I had to fight all the way to the very last metre which turned out to be a real battle between us and the Kiwis.

Meanwhile, Australia’s paratriathletes also had a hit out, lining up for valuable racing experience after a hit-and-miss 18 months of disjointed racing after Covid-19.

Defending 2016 Paralympic gold medallist in the vision-impaired classification, Katie Kelly said she was “really happy with her last hit out before Tokyo after not backing off in training.

“We have gone in full load – a great opportunity to execute and practice before Tokyo – the swim was good in the open water – we practised that last Saturday, a good fast bike, it was tough but I’m happy where I’m at,” said Kelly, after three weeks of training in Cairns.

Prospective Tokyo Paralympian Lauren Parker said her main aim was to get a really good hit out.

“It was important to practice the little things because we haven’t had much race practice over the last 12 months,” said Parker, who has her sights set squarely on Tokyo.

“Practicing transitions and getting good starts and practising my turns and getting some good power out there on the bike – I loved it and it was actually better than expected.”

Australia’s paratriathletes will now focus on a solid period of training in their countdown to Tokyo team announcement, training and a final race hit out on the Gold Coast.

GALLERY | Check out all the action in photos below: