JACKSON'S SILVER LINING FOR GLASGOW

Triathlon Australia, July 12, 2014: Australia's Emma Jackson has produced a brilliant sprint finish to take the silver medal behind amazing American Gwen Jorgensen in the World Triathlon Series sprint race in Hamburg today.

It was a perfect hit out for the pint-sized Queenslander just two weeks before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - the race she has set herself for in 2014.

The 2012 Olympian, who was third in the ITU round in London last month, dug deep to time her finish to perfection in a duel with Canadian Kirsten Sweetland in an epic battle for the minor places.

The pair staged a thrilling neck-and-neck battle down the blue carpet before Jackson edged in front on the line to continue her podium finishes in Germany’s home of triathlon.

Triathlon Australia's Performance Director Bernard Savage described the performance as a brilliant Commonwealth Games trial.

"Emma was fantastic and timed her run perfectly after pacing herself through the bike and producing another great run," said Savage.

"And she should be even better when the time comes to race in Glasgow."

Just three years ago Jackson shared the podium with her two fellow Emmas – Moffatt and Snowsill in an historic trifecta for the Australians.

Today's performance came behind one of the sport's greats in Jorgensen who became the first triathlete in history to win four WTS races in a row.

And just 24 hours after the news that another of the greats, Australia's Olympic champion and three-time ITU World Champion Snowsill had announced her retirement.

And in a race that saw Moffatt withdraw early in the run, complaining of breathing difficulties.

Savage revealed Moffatt had been involved in a minor fall on her bike, while training in Hamburg several days ago.

"Emma had a small fall and suffered a bruised calf and ribs which may have had something to do with her breathing," said Savage.

"It certainly isn't something she has had any problems with in the past so it could well be connected with the fall - we'll check it out.

"She had already planned to miss tomorrow's Mixed Teams Relay Championship to return to her training base in Girona and she will stick to those plans."

Another Commonwealth Games competitor Ashleigh Gentle also produced an encouraging race to finish 10th in her first major competition for several months and will be better for the hit out.

In other results Charlotte McShane was 28th, Gillian Backhouse 33rd and Olympic bronze medallist Erin Densham 51st in her first ITU race of the year.

 

AARON ROYLE BEST OF AUSSIE MEN

In the men’s race it was again left to Australia’s most consistent male of the past two years, Newcastle’s Wollongong Wizard Aaron Royle to carry the flag.

Royle was again the top Australian when he finished 11^th in a helter skelter finish to the WTS Hamburg sprint race.

Royle put himself in the picture when he fought hard to stay in touch on the bike in a race that saw Olympic champion, Great Britain’s Alistair Brownlee how why he is the champion he is with a full on victory.

He pulled out all stops as he raced away to claim an extraordinary victory – his first in Hamburg – in a timely return to the top of the podium.

Brownlee showed why he will again be the man to beat for Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow on July 24 as he charged to the gold medal ahead of Vincent Luis (France) with his brother, Jonathan third and the ever present Spaniard Javier Gomez fourth.

The good news for Royle, who has been in Vitoria, Spain in his European summer training camp under Jamie Turner is that while he was 11^th he was actually the third Commonwealth Games athlete behind the Brownlees and ahead of South African Richard Murray (13^th) and New Zealand’s Ryan Sissons (20^th).

Fellow Australians Dan Wilson, who will join Royle on the Glasgow start line was 27^th, Cameron Good 32^nd, Ryan Fisher 37^th and Brendan Sexton 40^th.

It is understood Australia’s third Commonwealth Games athlete, Ryan Bailie’s timing chip wasn’t working and the Australian camp believe he finished in the second half of the field.

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Media Manager Australian Commonwealth Games Team, Glasgow, 2014