Super Series podium for Butterworth
Scarborough’s Harry Butterworth took his first podium place of the season at the British Triathlon Super Series at Mallory Park in Leicestershire.
The event saw junior and senior athletes compete together in morning heats to qualify for the final race in the afternoon.
The first heat comprised a 400m open water lake swim followed by a 8km technical bike course on the race track and a 2km run.
Qualification for the final required athletes to finish within the first 14 of the 30 athletes competing.
A strong swim saw Harry fourth out of the water and a good transition on to the bike saw him maintain his position going into the run.
With little danger from the chasing pack of runners, he was able to ease up on the run, easily qualifying for the final in fourth place.
The more competitive
afternoon’s final was over a slightly longer 500m swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run.
Another strong swim and faultless transition onto the bike say Harry just off the lead pack, but the challenging weather conditions meant that he was unable to latch on to the six-rider lead pack.
Opting for a comfortable place in in the chase pack, he set off on to the run in a strong position.
Easing into a comfortable pace on the four-lap run course, he steadily moved up through the pack.
On the final lap, he unleashed a spectacular change in pace, out-running his close rivals and finishing a very close second junior athlete and 12th overall.
Easily his strongest performance of the season, he will go forward to the British Triathlon Grand Final this month in Sunderland in a confident mood.