Tremblay gets fourth and Jones seventh in Cancun

Two-time Olympian, Kathy Tremblay, came up short of the podium in her final race of the 2012 season, finishing fourth at a Triathlon World Cup in Cancun, Mexico on Sunday.

The 30-year-old Tremblay clocked a fourth-place time of 1:00:59 in the sprint race, which consisted of a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and 5-kilometre run.

“I am very happy because at the end of the day you want to give all that you have and I can say yes that I did today,” said the Montreal native. “I tried a couple of times to surge on the run, but it wasn’t enough. It is too bad I lost the sprint finish, but I gave everything I had today.”

Katie Hewison, of Great Britain, finished on top with a time of 1:00:19, while Kaitlin Shiver, of the United States, settled for the silver at 1:00:54. Austria’s Lisa Perterer edged out Tremblay for third with a time of 1:00:56.

Tremblay, who captured the first World Cup victory of her career earlier this year in Ishigaki, Japan, was making her first start since a difficult outing in her second Olympics where she crashed on the bike course in London earlier this summer.

“This is my final race of the year so I am really happy with today,” added Tremblay. “It is time for a holiday and a bit of a break now after the Games. I’ll enjoy this time and then think about getting ready for next year.”

Tremblay’s Canadian Olympic teammate, Kyle Jones, led a trio of Canadians into the top-15 in the men’s race. The 27-year-old Jones, of Oakville, Ont. clocked a seventh-place time of 54:08 under the hot Cancun sun.

“It was very hot out there today and I really felt it on the run,” said Jones, who also won his first World Cup race earlier this summer in Edmonton.  “I tried to do what I could to win the race by staying out front and being safe on the bike. I just didn’t have the snap in my legs on the run that I needed. My focus is on Auckland (World Championship Grand Final) in a couple of weeks.”

Two young Canucks had their best World Cup performances while joining Jones in the top-15. Andrew Yorke, of Caledon, Ont., was 11th at 54:30, while Victoria’s Matt Sharpe ran to 15th spot with a time of 54:39. Andrew Bysice, of Guelph, Ont., was the only other Canadian in the field, and finished 48th (57:32).

Two athletes from Mexico grabbed the gold and silver medals on Sunday. Sergio Sarmiento broke the finish line ribbon with a time of 53:33, while teammate, Crisanto Grajates, finished three seconds off the pace at 53:36. Gregory Rouault, of France, locked up the bronze medal after stopping the clock at 53:49.

The 2012 Grand Final World Championship race of the ITU’s World Triathlon Series will take place in Auckland, New Zealand on October 20.

Complete ITU World Cup Results (750m Swim, 20km bike, 5km run): www.triathlon.org

Top-Five Men’s Results:

1. Sergio Sarmiento, MEX,53:33; 2. Crisanto Grajales, MEX, 53:36; 3. Gregory Rouault, FRA, 53:49; 4.Jarrod Shoemaker, USA, 53:59; 5. Steffen Justus, GER, 54:03

Canadian Results:

7. Kyle Jones, Oakville, Ont., 54:08; 11. Andrew Yorke, Caledon, Ont., 54:30; 15. Matthew Sharpe, Victoria, B.C., 54:39; 48. Andrew Bysice, Guelph, Ont.

Top-Five Women’s Results:

1. Katie Hewison, GBB, 1:00:19; 2. Kaitlin Shiver, USA, 1:00:54; 3. Lisa Perterer, AUT, 1:00:56; 4. Kathy Tremblay, Montreal, CAN, 1:00:59; 5. Rebecca Robisch, GER, 1:01:21