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Tyler Mislawchuk leads Young Canucks at Junior World Championships in London

Gabrielle Edwards, top junior woman.

In his final race as a junior, Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk had the best finish of his three appearances at the premier international triathlon event, finishing in 12th place at the World Championships on Thursday morning in central London.

“It was hard right from the get go today,” said Mislawchuk, who punched the clock at 52:45 on the junior course, which consists of a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and a five-kilometre run in London’s Hyde Park, which became a international-renowned triathlon venue after hosting the 2012 Olympic Summer Games.

“There was a pack of about 15 guys that got an early lead up to about 30 seconds, but the chase group came back hard and caught up to us on the last two laps of the bike. A number of the guys who caught us ended up outrunning me so it is kind of disappointing.”

The 19-year-old Winnipegger was well positioned in the lead pack when he hopped  off his bike to switch into his running gear in the main stadium. Coming out of the second transition shoulder-to-shoulder with the top junior triathlon stars, Mislawchuk dropped out of the top-10 during his two trips around the 2.5-kilometre run course that circles the picturesque Serpentine Lake in the heart of Hyde Park.

“I just didn’t have the legs I wanted for the run, but I can’t ask for anything more. I gave it my best,” said Mislawchuk. “That was my last race as a junior. I’m excited, and not so excited, to move into the big boy races next year.”

France’s Dorian Coninx proved he is ready to challenge himself at the next level of racing. Coninx took on two Brits in front of their home crowd – not to mention the fastest juniors on the planet – to win the title as top junior men’s triathlete in the world in 2013. Coninx crossed the finish line with a golden time of 51:57.

Great Britain’s Marc Austin and Grant Sheldon finished second and third respectively. Austin grabbed the silver medal with a time of 52:00, while Sheldon locked up the bronze at 52:01.

It was a solid day of racing for all three of the Canadian junior men. Taking advantage of a solid swim and bike, two Quebecers, Xavier Grenier-Talavera and Alexis Lepage, placed in the top-30. Grenier-Talavera, of Vaudreuil-Dorion, was solid in 18th spot at 52:56, while Lepage, of Gatineau, placed 26th after posting a time of 53:23.

Earlier in the day the top young female triathletes in the world dove into London’s chilly Serpentine waters at Hyde Park. Battling through drizzling rain, and cool conditions throughout the high-tempo race, Saskatoon’s Gabrielle Edwards was the lone Canadian to finish, placing 44th with a time of 1:02:06.

“It was not my best race. It was really rough around the buoys in the swim and we weren’t really moving,” said Edwards following her first appearance at the World Championships. “The girls I was biking with were really strong so we made up some time, but it was sketchy on the corners so I was just glad I stayed up. The run was not my best, but I gave it everything. I will learn a lot from this and clearly need to work on my swim.”

Tamara Gorman, of the United States, captured the first World Championship crown of the week, winning the junior women’s race with a time of 57:08. Georgia Taylor-Brown, of Great Britain, ran to the silver medal after clocking-in at 57:31, while Germany’s Laura Lindemann rounded out the junior women’s podium in third at 57:34.

Emy Legault, of Ile Perot, Que., crashed on the second lap of the bike and did not finish the race.

Triathlon Canada is the governing body for triathlon in the country. Recognized as an Olympic medal sport since 2000, 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 Championship Series Results (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run): www.triathlon.org

Top-Five Men’s and Canadian Results:

1. Dorian Coninx, FRA, 51:57; 2. Marc Austin, GBR, 52:00; 3. Grant Sheldon, GBR, 52:01; 4. Raphael Montoya, FRA, 52:19; 5. Gordon Benson, GBR, 52:25.

Canadian Results:

12. Tyler Mislawchuk, Winnipeg, 52:45; 18. Xavier Grenier-Talavera, Vauldreuil-Dorion, Que., 52:56; 26. Alexis Lepage, Gatineau, Que., 53:23

Top-Five Women’s and Canadian Results:

1. Tamara Gorman, USA, 57:08; 2. Georgia Taylor-Brown, GBR, 57:31; 3. Laura Lindemann, GER, 57:34; 4. Jaz Hedgeland, AUS, 57:39; 5. Sumire Ohara, JPN, 57:51.

Canadian Results:

44. Gabrielle Edwards, Saskatoon, 1:02:06; DNF. Emy Legault, le Perrot, Que.