OLYMPIANS DENSHAM AND JACKSON BACK IN THE TRIATHLON SADDLE

Posted in Other News

Triathlon Australia, June 24, 2013: Australia’s Olympic triathletes have had a busy weekend of competition overseas with London bronze medallist Erin Densham returning in a sprint race in Edmonton while Emma Jackson featured prominently in a French Grand Prix event.

Densham, who has battled illness and injury since returning from last year’s Games, finished 10th in the ITU Edmonton World Cup sprint dominated by Canadians.

The 28-year-old Densham was well up in the 750m swim and held her own on the 20km bike only to fade on the tough five km run which featured two testing hills.

It was a low key return for Densham after her dominant year in 2012 and Triathlon Australia’s High Performance Director Bernard Savage was happy to see her back in the saddle.

“It’s a start for Erin who I made quite clear to that she wasn’t to rush back into racing – the next Olympics is still three years away,” said Savage, who was in Edmonton to see the Australians race.

“She is among several of the leading girls who have struggled in one way or another after London.

“Erin had an amazing year in 2012 and she doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone – she will return to Spain today to continue her training and it was a matter of starting back and getting that first race under here belt to gage where she’s at.

“She probably would have liked to have finished further up the ladder but she came into the race with no expectations and will take away plenty of positives I’m sure.”

The only other Australian in the race won by Canadian Amelie Kretz, was Gillian Backhouse who finished 22nd in the city that will next year host the 2014 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.

For Jackson, who made her Olympic debut in London, it has been a long haul to discover the kind of form that earned her selection after some disappointing races in the Australian summer.

To break through for a second placing to noted New Zealand Olympian Andrea Hewitt at the St Jean De Monts event will be an enormous confidence booster in the lead up to the remaining ITU races in Kitzbuhel, Hamburg, Stockholm and London.

Other Australians in the field were Felicity Sheed-Ryan (10th), Natalie Van Coevorden (15th), Grace Musgrove (24th) and Ellie Salthouse (29th).

The men’s race in Edmonton saw Australians Peter Kerr (8th), Nick Kastelein (15th), Matt Brown (19th) and Joel Tobin-White (25th).

Queenslander Mitch Kealey was involved in a five-bike which left him battered and bruised and luckily without serious injury while Marcel Walkington was forced out with mechanical problems.

The best of Australian men in St Jean De Monts were Canberra-based Declan Wilson (7th) and Ryan Fisher (10th) with London Olympian Brendan Sexton 19th.

The ITU World Series continues in Kitzbuhel (July 6), Hamburg (July 20-21), Stockholm (August 24/15) and London (September 11/12).

ITU World Cup Edmonton - 24 June 2013
Final Results - Elite Women - 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

Click here for full field results

High res images, audio interviews and more at the ITU Online Media Centre

ITU World Cup Edmonton - 24 June 2013
Final Results - Elite Men - 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

Click here for full field results

High res images, audio interviews and more at the ITU Online Media Centre

For complete results of the following events click on the links below:

FRENCH GRAND PRIX, ST JEAN DE MONTS – WOMEN

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA, SCHLIERSEE – SPITZINGSEE

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia…..

Ian Hanson

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