Emma Pooley places third at Challenge Philippines
British athlete takes bronze at "tough, challenging and beautiful" race
British Olympian Emma Pooley took bronze at the half-iron distance Challenge Philippines race in Bataan Province last weekend, finishing behind Australian athletes Melissa Hauschildt and Annabel Luxford who took gold and silver respectively.
Laura Bennett (USA) exited the 1.9km swim with a two minute lead over Hauschildt, but the Australian then hammered the bike leg to cross the line in 4:39:26, followed by Luxford (4:47:04) and Pooley (4:47:43).
In the men’s race, eventual winner Matt Burton (AUS) left the water 5mins adrift of Greg Bennett (USA) and Michael Murphy (AUS), but then reeling them in with blistering bike and run splits to cross the line in 4:26:53, followed by Murphy and Fredrik Croneborg (SWE). British athlete Darren Jenkins came in 11th in 4:44:27.
Top five men
1. Matt Burton (AUS): 4:26:53
2. Michael Murphy (AUS): 4:28:41
3. Fredrik Croneborg (SWE): 4:29:42
4. Greg Bennett (USA): 4:32:34
5. Mitchell Anderson (AUS): 4:36:41
Top five women
1. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS): 4:39:26
2. Annabel Luxford (AUS): 4:47:04
3. Emma Pooley (GBR): 4:47:43
4. Radka Vodickova (CZE): 4:52:30
5. Laura Bennett (USA): 5:17:55
Jamie Beach
Former digital editor 
