Brave Birtwhistle Sixth After Crashing In World Title Bid

Posted in Other News

Triathlon Australia, September 13, 2013: LONDON. A mud-splattered Jacob Birtwhistle produced a brave performance to get back on his bike for a fast finishing sixth in the ITU World Junior Triathlon Championships in London today.

Birtwhistle, the 18-year-old Launceston schoolboy hit the pavement when he crashed his bike on the first lap of the 20 kilometre bike course and was also slammed with a 10 second penalty for leaving his wetsuit outside of his designed gear-box.

But undeterred the rising star of Australia’s junior ranks picked himself back up on the slippery, rain-affected course and charged home behind one of the fastest men’s field’s ever assembled for a junior world championship.

“That didn’t go according to plan….that’s for sure,” said a frustrated and bitterly disappointed Birtwhistle, straight after the race and showing the muddy and bloody scars of his bingle with the Hyde Park pavement.

“Whatever could have gone wrong did go wrong….I crashed on the first lap of the bike and also suffered a penalty for what I’m not sure.”

Officials later confirmed that both Birtwhistle and team mate Luke William (who finished 30^th) were both penalised 10 seconds for an infringement in T1 when changing from swim to bike for not placing their wetsuits securely into their gear boxes.

Birtwhistle ran past the finish line for the final lap in third and looking strong but came back past the main grandstand in sixth after sitting out his time in the penalty box – his podium hopes dashed.

He fought on bravely to chase home the winners, European champion Dorian Coninx (FRA) and Scottish pair Marc Austin (GBR) and Grant Sheldon (GBR) but to no avail.

Birtwhistle was met with some words of encouragement from fellow Australian team mate, Victoria’s 13^th placegetter Joel Tobin White, when the pair embraced in the Mixed Zone.

“You would have won that Jacob,” said Tobin-White, “you did a great job on the bike mate to get back up there….don’t worry, you’ll have your turn.”

Tobin-White and Birtwhistle both worked hard to stay in touch but over a Sprint distance and with the power and the speed of the French and British teams at the front, any mishap or mistake and your race is over. ITU Raced Wrap and Results

In the women’s race it was Western Australia’s Jaz Hedgeland who gave herself every chance of a podium finish, only to fall agonizingly short with a courageous fourth behind Tamara Gorman (USA), Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) and Laura Lindeman (GER). ITU Race Wrap and Results

Hedgeland, like Birtwhistle, came to London with high hopes but was just five seconds from a podium finish.

“I set myself the goal of winning the gold medal,” said Hedgeland “so I am disappointed to finish fourth…but I left nothing out there….I’ll be back next year having another crack.

“I was well up in the swim and worked really hard on the bike but when it came to the run I just had nothing in my legs.”

Hedgeland had been among the leaders for most of the race with fellow Australian Holly Grice also in command with an outstanding bike ride.

In the end it was Hedgeland 4^th, Queensland trio Grice a satisfying eighth, 16-year-old Sophie Maloweicki an encouraging 23^rd, just ahead of Jodie Duff who dug deep to hang on for 24^th.

Grice, who also hit the deck, taking skin off her elbow, after taking a drink on the first lap of the run, also picked herself back up to produce an outstanding Top Ten finish for eighth.

‘I’m over the moon with that result – I couldn’t be happier really, despite that fall on the run, but to know I gave it everything I could, you can’t ask much better than that,” said Grice, who was patted on the back by international competitors, praising her for her work on the bike .

“That’s nice, isn’t it,” said Grice, a renown swim-biker, who like her team mates, all have enormous potential.

Maloweicki, the baby of the Australian team at just 16, couldn’t wipe the smile off her \face – originally named as a reserve fore the team, but gaining a last minute start.

“That was a lot of fun,” said the St Margaret’s Girls Anglican Year 11 Student from Brisbane, who also shows enormous potential as a hockey player.

“To get the opportunity to race against these girls in the World Championship is just amazing. I actually had a good swim and bike and felt great on the run.”

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia…..

Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Managing Director

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