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Stunning Gold Coast performance puts Jenkins on top

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Helen Jenkins won gold at the ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast, ending a two-year winning streak by Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and potentially booking her place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Brownlee brothers began their 2016 seasons, with Jonathan winning bronze.

Jenkins performed under immense pressure with the third and final British spot for Rio up for grabs and a stacked women’s field assembled, including ITU World Champion, Jorgensen. She and Jodie Stimpson had Rio at the forefront of their minds, with selectors looking specifically at this race.

After a fast-paced sea swim, Jenkins set up the win by pushing the pace on the bike and demonstrating excellent technical skills. By the start of the run she had established a 90 second lead alongside Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Flora Duffy (BER). Simpson finished the swim lower down the field and had to play catch-up for the rest of the race.

Jenkins ran away for an emphatic win, and said: “I can’t quite believe it. I got to the run and just went for it. But the whole time I was waiting for Gwen, you can never underestimate how quick Gwen’s running is.”

It was 41 seconds before Jorgensen crossed the line in second place, one second ahead of Hewitt. Jorgensen had not been beaten in two years. Stimpson finished 12th.

Jenkins now leads the ITU World Triathlon Series rankings and Stimpson sits in third place.

Intense heat greeted the men as Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee lined up for their first races of 2016. Gordon Benson and Tom Bishop joined them and for much of the race is was the British athletes forcing the pace.

On the 10km run Jonathan got into a leading position with Spain’s number-one-ranked Mario Mola before starting to struggle in the heat.

Alistair had already dropped back, but Jonathan appeared to be in a solid second position until he started to weave around the road and another Spaniard, Fernando Alarza, passed him in the closing stages. Jonathan staggered over the line in third place.

British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell commented on the Brownlee brothers: “Racing in the middle of the day, the heat coming off the tarmac was unbelievable. The key is to get them recovered and on their way to South Africa for the next race now.”

He added: “Jonny did well to hang on for the medal, and this is Alistair’s first race since surgery. He’s only just started to do the intensive work that he needs to do.”

On the women’s race, he said: “Helen demonstrated exactly what she is capable of, and she’s done an outstanding job after years getting herself back from injury.”

He added: “Jodie wasn’t able to get her best performance out today and I’m gutted for her, but she’s still a key British athlete and we’ll support her in every way possible”

A meeting will take place this week to decide nominations for the women’s team in Rio. Non Stanford and Vicky Holland have already met the automatic qualification criteria, meaning that just one place remains.

ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast; 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run.
Results, elite women:
1. Helen Jenkins, GBR, 1:56:03      
2. Gwen Jorgensen, USA, 1:56:44  
3. Andrea Hewitt, NZL, 1:56:45
12. Jodie Stimpson, GBR, 1:59:21

Results, elite men:
1. Mario Mola, ESP, 1:46:28
2. Fernando Alarza, ESP, 1:46:55
3. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR, 1:47:09
36. Alistair Brownlee, GBR, 1:50:56
42. Thomas Bishop, GBR, 1:52:49
DNF Gordon Benson

 

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