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Debut Bronze for Loughborough-bound Avil 

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Loughborough-bound Hollie Avil booked a place at the final British Triathlon Olympic qualifying race in Madrid next month with bronze at her World Cup debut on the island of Ishigaki, Japan last weekend.

The 2007 European and World Junior Triathlon Champion, who plans to enrol at Loughborough University in September, fought out an epic battle with Japan’s Jude Ide and Canada’s Kathy Tremblay for third which lasted the entire duration of the 10km run. But as Tremblay dropped in the final kilometre it came down to a sprint finish, and despite the home support for Ide, Avil pulled away to take her first World Cup podium.

"I'm really, really, really happy,” said Avil. “My swim wasn't great but I never ever give up. I always say the race isn't over until the finish line and I knew that I could get onto the run still and give a good performance.

“At the end I thought it wasn't going to be easy to the finish especially with a medal in contention. I knew I just had to hang on with her for the sprint finish. I didn't plan to go, I just went and felt good and didn't look back."

In the men’s race, Loughborough-based Tim Don moved from 17th to fifth on the run in another promising display ahead of the Olympic selection race in Madrid. Having missed the front bike pack with Loughborough training partner Will Clarke, the pair came into second transition over a minute off the leaders.

However a strong performance elevated Don up to fifth finishing just 31 seconds off the winner, Simon Whitfield from Canada. 2006 World Under 23 Champion Clarke also closed the gap to the winner as he moved up from 22nd to eleventh.

Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup Women’s Results:

1. Emma Snowsill, Australia

2. Erin Densham, Australia

3. Hollie Avil, Great Britain