World Title dashed from her grasp by illness

Monday, 22 October 2012

VIS triathlete Erin Densham was the World Series leader heading into the grand final of the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Auckland on Saturday. But being under the weather for the past fortnight hindered her preparation for a tough course.

Having battled through the swim, Densham withdrew early on the second of eight laps on the hilly bike circuit.

The world title dashed from her grasp by illness, Densham says she was happy with what has been her best season on the world triathlon circuit.  ‘It has been an awesome year for me and I have to walk away happy with that.’

Brendan Sexton was the only Australian competing in the men’s elite race and he finished 30^th after crashing during the bike leg.

Racing in driving rain, Sexton was trying to make up ground early in the 40km cycle when he hit the deck and suffered severe grazing to his right arm.

On a brighter note, VIS rising star Marcel Walkington was the top Australian in the men's junior race, finishing seventh.  Walkington was always in the hunt after emerging from the swim in fourth place and while he worked away on the bike to stay out of trouble in the tricky conditions, he was unable to maintain the pace in the run.

VIS scholarship holder Joel Tobin-White fought hard to finish a creditable 23^rd.