Jake strikes desert gold

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 TASMANIAN Jake Birtwhistle claimed World Triathlon Series gold by anchoring Australia to a stunning victory over the US in the mixed relay in Abu Dhabi at the weekend.

Birtwhistle, who was eighth in the individual sprint race a day earlier, mowed down America’s anchorman on the run leg to take an important victory, with the placings counting towards qualifying individual places for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Australia is ranked first, and the Abu Dhabi win now positions the team strongly in the Mixed Relay Olympic qualification rankings.

Australia changed its relay order, with Ashleigh Gentle, 10th in the women’s individual race, leading off, followed by Commonwealth Games representative Luke Willian and NSW’s stalwart Emma Jeff- coat, both debutants on mixed relay team.

Gentle, Willian and Jeffcoat always had Team Australia in striking distance and, despite trailing the US by 17 seconds going into the final leg, Birtwhistle’s strike power was always going to make the Aussies dangerous.

Birtwhistle, second out of the swim, and into the final transition, kept Eli Hemming within his sights and with just the 2km to ride had caught him. As they hit the final changeover together, Birtwhistle took little time get into his rhythm.

The former track runner put pressure on the American as he stepped up the pace. Hemming couldn’t match it and Birtwhistle wrapped up the gold for Australia, continuing to excel in the newest triathlon event added to the Tokyo Olympic program.

The 25-year-old running machine from Launceston was quick to praise his teammates.

“I’ve been the anchor before, I guess I’m always thankful to have a strong team,” he said. “We have never used this team before and once again we’ve come out and won the race, it’s great for us all, and it’s great for triathlon in Australia that we’re able to come out and do well in these events.”

The next event is in Bermuda next month.