Helen Jenkins strengthened her claim to be selected for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio after taking victory at the ITU Triathlon World Cup on the Gold Coast.
Saturday’s race in Australia had been pinpointed as a key race for British selectors looking to assign the final British female spot for Rio, with a meeting due to take place later this week.
Both Non Stanford and Vicky Holland had secured their nominations ahead of the final ratification for the triathlon team by the British Olympic Association later this summer – with Jenkins and Commonwealth Games champion Jodie Stimpson looking to battle in out for the final place on offer.
Stimpson had won the season-opening World Cup in Abu Dhabi last month but it was roles reversed this time around as Jenkins won her first World Triathlon Series race since 2012 in 1:56.03 hours.
She was 41 seconds ahead of world champion Gwen Jorgensen in second while Stimpson eventually finished 12th.
“I can’t quite believe it,” said Jenkins, who now leads the World Triathlon Series with Stimpson in third.
“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.”
Meanwhile in the men’s event, Jonathan Brownlee began his 2016 season with a bronze medal despite the intense heat conditions.
Both he and brother Alistair were making their first competitive appearances of the season alongside fellow Brits Gordon Benson and Tom Bishop.
And in the end it was defending Gold Coast champion Jonathan who came through strongest of the team despite suffering from the heat, eventually finishing 41 seconds behind Spain’s number-one-ranked Mario Mola, while Alistair was 36th.
British Triathlon performance director Brendan Purcell said: “Racing in the middle of the day, the heat coming off the tarmac was unbelievable.
“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.”
Sportsbeat 2016