Jenkins Claims Third in Hyde Park
24th July 2010
Britain’s Helen Jenkins finished third at today’s Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship London presented by Tata Steel. Canada’s 21-year-old Paula Findlay scored a stunning win in to to take gold from last year’s winner Nicole Spirig of Switzerland.
Jenkins, the 2008 World Champion, threw down the gauntlet in the run at London’s iconic Hyde Park, but the young Canadian stayed with her and took the lead in the final 2km. Findlay won her first Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championships Series race in 1:51.48.
Britain’s Helen Jenkins repeated her performance of 2009, finishing in third place.
Jenkins said: “I’m really happy to be out there on the podium in front of the home crowd. The home support was amazing and I couldn’t believe how many people were shouting for me. I’m disappointed not to win, but to be on the podium was brilliant.
“Considering the field, this is probably the best field assembled for a couple of years, to get on the podium is fantastic.
“I’ve met my goal today and I really tried to commit to it. I didn’t have the best swim, but I pushed hard on the bike and on the run... It didn’t get me the win but it got me on the podium.
Britain’s Vicky Holland finished sixth to back up her fifth place in Hamburg last week, and Jodie Swallow seventh.
Earlier, Findlay had come out of the water in 23rd, 20 seconds behind race leader Laura Bennett (USA), who had dominated the swim. They both featured in a 24-strong pack that broke away from the rest of the field following the swim to bike transition.
Between the 10k and 20k marks of the ride they had virtually doubled their lead over the pack. Spirig led the field into the run, with Britain’s Hollie Avil leading the chasing pack.
A gutsy Jenkins laid down the challenge with a pace that soon cut the leading group from 24 to 10. By the end of the first of three laps, and with 3.3km of the run out of the way, her pace had further reduced the leading group to seven, which still included three Brits.
Cheered on by a home crowd, Jenkins’ pace reduced the front pack even further to just four, but it was the young Canadian who made the decisive break to claim the best win of her career to date.
Holland and Swallow were pleased with their sixth and seventh finishes respectively at the London 2012 Olympic Games triathlon venue.
Holland said: “I’m very happy - I was nice and relaxed and managed to pull out another good result. It has been a really great week for me, a couple of fantastic results – fifth in Hamburg and then sixth here today.”
Swallow said: “The run went off fast from the start and I never really got in control of it. After a lap I had to let the first girls go and find my rhythm. I’m pleased I held on and got seventh.”
“I love this race, everybody was screaming my name. I’m not sure if they were screaming for me or the other Jodie (Stimpson) but I don’t mind.”
Emma Moffatt, Australia’s Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, finished ninth today but goes to the next round in Kitzbuhel in Austria at the head of the overall ITU World Championships Series leaderboard.
“I didn’t have my best day today, but I’m still at the top overall and I’m going to try to maintain that over the next two races,” she said. “The girls were pushing a really fast race today and I fell off it a bit.”
National Performance Director, Heather Williams said: “It was another fantastic performance from Helen. This race meant a lot to her and she really took it on during the run. Unfortunately there were two better people on the day, but Helen gave it her all.
“It’s going to be a great race tomorrow. All our guys are really up for it. Tim’s in great shape, as we’ve seen, and Alistair is in great shape too. It’s all set for a great race!”
The men’s elite race gets underway at 16.00 and will be live on BBC2 from 15.00.
Results:
1. Paula Findlay CAN 01:51:48
2. Nicola Spirig SUI 01:51:51
3. Helen Jenkins GBR 01:51:53
4. Andrea Hewitt NZL 01:51:55
5. Laura Bennett USA 01:52:34
6. Vicky Holland GBR 01:52:39
7. Jodie Swallow GBR 01:52:45
8. Kate Roberts RSA 01:53:04
9. Emma Moffatt AUS 01:53:12
10. Akane Tsuchihashi JPN 01:53:24
25. Jodie Stimpson GBR 1:55:06
43. Hollie Avil GBR 1:57.32
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