Gold for Gomez and Jorgensen at WTS Yokohama

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British athletes came away empty-handed in the elite races at WTS Yokohama earlier today, with Javier Gomez (ESP) continuing his winning streak and Gwen Jorgensen (USA) taking her first WTS gold of the season.

Gomez had to fight hard against compatriot Mario Mola and South Africa’s Richard Murray in the run, only pulling clear of Mola in the final metres of the finishing chute to cross the line in 1:45:31. Alistair and Jonny Brownlee took fourth and fifth place respectively, ending the latter’s run of 17 consecutive WTS podium places.

“With Mario and Richard, the run was pretty fast and I was just about to drop in the second or third lap and somehow I managed to get up,” said Gomez afterwards. “Then I got down to the final few hundred metres, I knew that Mario is pretty fast but I just gave it everything, the third sprint I’ve won in my life, so I’m pretty happy. Third win of the year, I can’t believe it’s going so good.”

In the women’s race, a congested bike leg meant it all came down to the 10km run – and unlike in Auckland and Cape Town, Jorgensen was up amongst the leaders out of T2, meaning that the fleet-footed American could again turn in one of the best run splits of the day (33:43mins) to claim gold ahead of Ai Ueda (JPN) and Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL). Britain’s Jodie Stimpson suffered a cut foot falling on her bike in transition but soldiered through the pain to finish ninth, and remains on top of the WTS leaderboard after her wins in Auckland and Cape Town.

“I just love Japan, I don’t know why, I think it’s because I love rice, but to win twice is awesome,” Jorgensen said. “Three years ago I think I came out here and had the 12th fastest run or something, to it’s really hard to win two races on the same course in a row.”

Britain’s paratriathletes meanwhile had a superb day to remember, scooping 11 medals between them including golds for Phil Hogg (PT1), Faye McClelland (PT4), Dave Ellis (PT5) and Jane Egan (PT1). Silver medals were secured by Joe Townsend (PT1), Iain Dawson (PT5), Lauren Steadman (PT4) and Melissa Reid (PT5). Bronzes were taken by David Hill (PT4), Clare Cunningham (PT4) and Alison Patrick (PT5).

Hogg said afterwards: “I have had a really bad winter.. I had two or three months off through illness and have only been back training six weeks or so. This is a real ‘got my mind in the right place’ day today, so I am really happy.”

Next stop – WTS London on the weekend of 31 May / 1 June. We’ll be bringing you live coverage on Twitter (@220Triathlon) from Hyde Park as it happens.