Germany claims ITU Mixed Team Relay World Championship gold

Four Canadian triathletes joined forces to post a ninth-place finish at the Mixed Team Relay World Championships in Hamburg, Germany on Sunday.

The Canadian team of Victoria’s Kirsten Sweetland, Kyle Jones, of Oakville, Ont., Winnipeg’s Sarah-Anne Brault, and Andrew Yorke, of Caledon, Ont., teamed up to clock a time of 1:19:46.

“It was so much fun! It was a chance to really work as a team and put it all on the line,” said Sweetland, who took the opening leg. “It hurt so bad, but was over so fast! I definitely haven’t trained for that kind of racing but it was a blast! I really wish it were in Rio 2016! So much excitement packed into such a short time!”

The mixed relay consists of two male and two female athletes that hit the start line in an all-out sprint. Each athlete completes a mini triathlon course consisting of a 250-metre swim, a five-kilometre bike course and a 1.2-kilometre run.

“Racing as a team isn’t something we don’t get to do often so I think we all really enjoyed the experience and had a lot of fun out there today,” said Kyle Jones, who took on the second leg. “Everyone put in a strong effort and we’re pleased with our top 10 finish.”

The defending champion team from Great Britain were on their way to posting a third-straight world title until Non Stanford crashed on the bike, opening the door for the rest of the world. The hometown Germans jumped on the opportunity to win their first ever World Championship title with a time of 1:17:55. New Zealand finished second at 1:18:14, and the United States, who were leading into the run of the final leg, held on for the bronze medal with a time of 1:18:19.

Meanwhile, Canada’s next generation of Olympic heroes were back home in battling on the streets of downtown for national junior title at the Toronto Triathlon Festival on Sunday.

Quebec’s Alexis Lepage won the men’s junior title after clocking a time of 54:43 in the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run course.

Xavier Grenier-Talavera, of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., locked up the silver medal with a time of 54:46, while Victoria’s Connor Foreman grabbed the bronze after clocking-in at 54:53.

In the junior women’s race, it was Victoria’s Megan Kinghorn who was crowned the 2013 Canadian Junior Champion. Kinghorn crossed the finish line with a time of 1:02:22. Ottawa’s Samantha Klus finished second with a time of 1:02:43, while Emy Legault, of Ile Perrot, Que., won the race for the bronze medal with a time of 1:03:14.

Get complete Canadian Junior and Toronto Triathlon Festival Results.

Triathlon Canada is the governing body for triathlon in the country. Recognized as an Olympic medal sport since 2000 and Paralympic medal sport as of 2016, Triathlon Canada’s mandate is to promote, foster, organize and develop the sport of triathlon, and its related disciplines, in Canada. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com

Complete World Triathlon Series Results (250-metre swim, 5-kilometre bike, 1.2-kilometre run): www.triathlon.org

1.	Team I Germany	GER		01:17:55
2.	Team I New Zealand	NZL		01:18:14
3.	Team I United States	USA		01:18:19
4.	Team I Australia	AUS		01:18:33
5.	Team I France	FRA		01:18:49
6.	Team I Italy	ITA		01:19:00
7.	Team I Switzerland	SUI		01:19:37
8.	Team I Russia	RUS		01:19:40
9.	Team I Canada	CAN		01:19:46
10.	Team I Japan	JPN		01:19:51

Canadian Junior Championship

Men’s Results:

1. Alexis Lepage, Quebec, 54:43; 2. Xavier Grenier-Talavera, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., 54:46; 3. Connor Forman, Victoria, 54:53; 4. Myles Zagar, Caledon, Ont., 55:06; 5. Tyler Mislawchuck, Oak Bluff, Man., 55:43

Women’s Results:

1. Megan Kinghorn, Victoria, 1:02:22; 2. Samantha Klus, Ottawa, 1:02:43; 3. Emy Legault, Ile Perrot, Que., 1:03:14; 4. Gabrielle Edwards, Saskatoon, 1:03:18; 5. Veronique Demers, Quebec, 1:03:22.