Golden skies were an auspicious start for Gwen Jorgensen and the rest of Team USA at WTS Gold Coast today, and they made the most of it to take a clean sweep of the medals.
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>>> Gwen Jorgensen bags her first WTS Auckland win
Jorgensen wore the number two today after the number one spot was left unoccupied in a fitting tribute to the late Aussie triathlete and coach Jackie Fairweather, who passed away in 2014. The golden bike rack was also left open to remember Fairweather..
Ideal conditions did little to break up the women on the two lap swim but a quick transition saw a tight-knit lead group of eight form at the front of the flat and very technical 40-kilometre bike course.
The tough course caused some early casualty’s including Australian Natalie van Coevorden forced to withdraw. The front group included Lucy Hall (GBR), Flora Duffy (BER), Jorgensen, Zaferes, True, Rebecca Clarke (NZL), Pamella Oliveira (BRA) and Jessica Learmonth (GBR).
A large chase group, led interchangeably by Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle and Emma Moffatt remained at a distance of about a one-minute deficit from the leaders entering into the second transition.
Jorgensen held her own in the swim remaining in touch and with the lead group heading back into into transition right behind Jessica Learmonth (GRB) who led out. Her swim and bike skills continue to improve which is not good news for her competitors.
Jorgensen played an active part in the front group with Duffy and True also driving the bunch that worked effectively together to ensure they stayed away throughout the entirety of the eight-lap technical course.
Her remarkable effort the first two disciplines set her up perfectly to then unleash her weapon on the run. She cruised across the finish line to earn the gold medal at 1:57:00. Despite having to serve a 15-second penalty for a transition infringement, Jorgensen still executed a standout run to keep her perfect 2015 season intact and win her third WTS race of the year.
I am so happy with my win at #WTSColdCoast today. What an amazing day for Team USA going 1-2-3 @sgroffy @KZaferes6 pic.twitter.com/ofSXeAJeTy
— gwen jorgensen (@gwenjorgensen) April 11, 2015
True took home the silver medal with a time of 1:58:18, giving her the first podium finish of the season after she placed ninth in Abu Dhabi and eighth in Auckland. The USA sweep was complete when Zaferes was able to grab third in a time of 1:58:36. The bronze medallist now has earned three for three on podium finishes in the WTS circuit for the year and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“I don’t think you ever have a perfect race but I was certainly thrilled to come out of the water and be in the front pack right away,” said Jorgensen afterwards. “I mean one, two, three for Team USA, I don’t think you can get any better standing on the podium and looking over and seeing the other two girls and hearing the national anthem, we could not ask for anything more,” said Jorgensen.
Full women’s results.
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What did you think of today’s race? Let us know in the comments below!
Golden skies were an auspicious start for Gwen Jorgensen and the rest of Team USA at WTS Gold Coast today, and they made the most of it to take a clean sweep of the medals.
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>>> Gwen Jorgensen bags her first WTS Auckland win
Jorgensen wore the number two today after the number one spot was left unoccupied in a fitting tribute to the late Aussie triathlete and coach Jackie Fairweather, who passed away in 2014. The golden bike rack was also left open to remember Fairweather..
Ideal conditions did little to break up the women on the two lap swim but a quick transition saw a tight-knit lead group of eight form at the front of the flat and very technical 40-kilometre bike course.
The tough course caused some early casualty’s including Australian Natalie van Coevorden forced to withdraw. The front group included Lucy Hall (GBR), Flora Duffy (BER), Jorgensen, Zaferes, True, Rebecca Clarke (NZL), Pamella Oliveira (BRA) and Jessica Learmonth (GBR).
A large chase group, led interchangeably by Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle and Emma Moffatt remained at a distance of about a one-minute deficit from the leaders entering into the second transition.
Jorgensen held her own in the swim remaining in touch and with the lead group heading back into into transition right behind Jessica Learmonth (GRB) who led out. Her swim and bike skills continue to improve which is not good news for her competitors.
Jorgensen played an active part in the front group with Duffy and True also driving the bunch that worked effectively together to ensure they stayed away throughout the entirety of the eight-lap technical course.
Her remarkable effort the first two disciplines set her up perfectly to then unleash her weapon on the run. She cruised across the finish line to earn the gold medal at 1:57:00. Despite having to serve a 15-second penalty for a transition infringement, Jorgensen still executed a standout run to keep her perfect 2015 season intact and win her third WTS race of the year.
I am so happy with my win at #WTSColdCoast today. What an amazing day for Team USA going 1-2-3 @sgroffy @KZaferes6 pic.twitter.com/ofSXeAJeTy
— gwen jorgensen (@gwenjorgensen) April 11, 2015
True took home the silver medal with a time of 1:58:18, giving her the first podium finish of the season after she placed ninth in Abu Dhabi and eighth in Auckland. The USA sweep was complete when Zaferes was able to grab third in a time of 1:58:36. The bronze medallist now has earned three for three on podium finishes in the WTS circuit for the year and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“I don’t think you ever have a perfect race but I was certainly thrilled to come out of the water and be in the front pack right away,” said Jorgensen afterwards. “I mean one, two, three for Team USA, I don’t think you can get any better standing on the podium and looking over and seeing the other two girls and hearing the national anthem, we could not ask for anything more,” said Jorgensen.
Full women’s results.
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What did you think of today’s race? Let us know in the comments below!
WTS series leaders Jonny Brownlee and Gwen Jorgensen won yet again in Gold Coast, Australia last Saturday (11 April), but that wasn’t to say either race was without drama….
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Jonny put in one of his very best performances to date, narrowly missing a crash on the latter stages of the bike, while Gwen led a clean sweep in the women’s race for Team USA.
WTS series leaders Jonny Brownlee and Gwen Jorgensen won yet again in Gold Coast, Australia last Saturday (11 April), but that wasn’t to say either race was without drama….
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Jonny put in one of his very best performances to date, narrowly missing a crash on the latter stages of the bike, while Gwen led a clean sweep in the women’s race for Team USA.
Elite men
>>> Jonny Brownlee runs ‘like a maniac’ for gold
Elite women
>>> Gwen Jorgenesen wins eighth consecutive WTS title
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What did you think of the races? Let us know in the comments below!
Triathlon stars of the future, get training – the Kids of Steel series will return for 2015 with ten events across the UK, culminating in a mini-triathlon at the London Aquatics Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this July.
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Up to 10,000 youngsters aged 8 to 13 are expected to take part in the series, organised by British Triathlon and sponsors Tata Steel:
May 19: The Pods leisure centre, Scunthorpe May 20: International Swimming Pool, Corby June 3: Workington Leisure Centre June 4: Eston Leisure Centre, Teesside June 9: Wishaw Sports Centre June 26: Alun Leisure Centre, Mold June 29: Westfield Sports Centre, Sheffield July 7: National Pool, Swansea July 9: International Sports Village, Newport July 14: London Aquatics Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Josh Jones, 18, took part in a Kids of Steel triathlon event at the age of 12. A dedicated swimmer and runner from an early age, he jumped at the chance to give triathlon a go at a Kids of Steel event in Scunthorpe with his school – and last year became British Age-Group Triathlon Champion.
“Kids of Steel reinforced my love of sport and encouraged me to continue training hard”, said Josh. “Now I’m representing Great Britain at age-group level in the sport I love and I hope to become an even stronger athlete in the future.”
Triathlon stars of the future, get training – the Kids of Steel series will return for 2015 with ten events across the UK, culminating in a mini-triathlon at the London Aquatics Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this July.
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Up to 10,000 youngsters aged 8 to 13 are expected to take part in the series, organised by British Triathlon and sponsors Tata Steel:
May 19: The Pods leisure centre, Scunthorpe May 20: International Swimming Pool, Corby June 3: Workington Leisure Centre June 4: Eston Leisure Centre, Teesside June 9: Wishaw Sports Centre June 26: Alun Leisure Centre, Mold June 29: Westfield Sports Centre, Sheffield July 7: National Pool, Swansea July 9: International Sports Village, Newport July 14: London Aquatics Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Josh Jones, 18, took part in a Kids of Steel triathlon event at the age of 12. A dedicated swimmer and runner from an early age, he jumped at the chance to give triathlon a go at a Kids of Steel event in Scunthorpe with his school – and last year became British Age-Group Triathlon Champion.
“Kids of Steel reinforced my love of sport and encouraged me to continue training hard”, said Josh. “Now I’m representing Great Britain at age-group level in the sport I love and I hope to become an even stronger athlete in the future.”
For more info head here.
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Has your child taken part in a Kids of Steel event? Let us know in the comments!
The World Triathlon Series may be heading to Yorkshire next year, as Leeds has just been nominated by British Triathlon as its preferred candidate to stage a round of the 2016 series.
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If successful it would give Leeds natives Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee the chance to compete in front of packed crowds and in an atmosphere similar to the unforgettable Tour de France Grand Départ in the city last summer.
A leg of the series has previously been held since 2009 in London’s Hyde Park (except 2012 when it was the Olympic venue), but Leeds has now been put forward by British Triathlon as the preferred city to take over hosting a British round for an initial three years.
Alistair and Jonny have advised on a potential race route in the city, which could see the Leeds-based brothers compete in front of a home crowd in one of the final races before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
“The ITU World Triathlon Series is about delivering world-class racing in iconic locations and Leeds will guarantee to do just that,” said Alistair Brownlee. “I am sure that spectators will line the route and the city centre will be full of fans cheering on the athletes as we cross the finish line.
“The Tour de France Grand Départ 2014 demonstrated how much the people of Leeds and Yorkshire love sport, and the opportunity for not just myself but also for athletes from around the world to race in front of crowds like that will create an unforgettable event. It will create a platform to inspire the local community to get involved in the sport and continue the proud triathlon tradition within Yorkshire.”
The event in Leeds would see Olympic-distance elite men’s and women’s triathlon races start with a 1500m swim in Roundhay Park, before making the transition onto a 40km bike route into the city centre where they would complete a number of circuits before finishing with a 10km run through the heart of Leeds in front of possible crowds in excess of 40,000 spectators lining the free-to-view route.
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The calendar of ITU World Triathlon Series events for 2016 is expected to be announced by the ITU next month – May 2015.
The World Triathlon Series may be heading to Yorkshire next year, as Leeds has just been nominated by British Triathlon as its preferred candidate to stage a round of the 2016 series.
Advertisement
If successful it would give Leeds natives Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee the chance to compete in front of packed crowds and in an atmosphere similar to the unforgettable Tour de France Grand Départ in the city last summer.
A leg of the series has previously been held since 2009 in London’s Hyde Park (except 2012 when it was the Olympic venue), but Leeds has now been put forward by British Triathlon as the preferred city to take over hosting a British round for an initial three years.
Alistair and Jonny have advised on a potential race route in the city, which could see the Leeds-based brothers compete in front of a home crowd in one of the final races before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
“The ITU World Triathlon Series is about delivering world-class racing in iconic locations and Leeds will guarantee to do just that,” said Alistair Brownlee. “I am sure that spectators will line the route and the city centre will be full of fans cheering on the athletes as we cross the finish line.
“The Tour de France Grand Départ 2014 demonstrated how much the people of Leeds and Yorkshire love sport, and the opportunity for not just myself but also for athletes from around the world to race in front of crowds like that will create an unforgettable event. It will create a platform to inspire the local community to get involved in the sport and continue the proud triathlon tradition within Yorkshire.”
The event in Leeds would see Olympic-distance elite men’s and women’s triathlon races start with a 1500m swim in Roundhay Park, before making the transition onto a 40km bike route into the city centre where they would complete a number of circuits before finishing with a 10km run through the heart of Leeds in front of possible crowds in excess of 40,000 spectators lining the free-to-view route.
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The calendar of ITU World Triathlon Series events for 2016 is expected to be announced by the ITU next month – May 2015.
Now in its 28th year, the Tri De Spice is held in Port Louis on the island of Grenada. Triathletes can choose from a Sprint (750m/20k/5k) or Olympic (1500m/40k/10k) distance, with the swim taking place in the calm waters of the port itself. You can read Helen’s full race report in the next issue of 220 Triathlon, on sale 28th April, but here are some of the photos from the race:
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The event also boasts an afternoon of kids’ races, with children as young as three lining up to take on a triathlon – although the very youngest do their swim in a shallow pool at the race venue!
Tempted to take part next year? Then check out the website here.
Now in its 28th year, the Tri De Spice is held in Port Louis on the island of Grenada. Triathletes can choose from a Sprint (750m/20k/5k) or Olympic (1500m/40k/10k) distance, with the swim taking place in the calm waters of the port itself. You can read Helen’s full race report in the next issue of 220 Triathlon, on sale 28th April, but here are some of the photos from the race:
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The event also boasts an afternoon of kids’ races, with children as young as three lining up to take on a triathlon – although the very youngest do their swim in a shallow pool at the race venue!