TRIATHLON: Xuanwu Lake Triathlon Course has delivered Australia another medal, this time claiming Bronze in the mixed team relay.

Individual gold medallist Brittany Dutton and 14th placed Jack Van Stekelenburg teamed up with New Zealand pair of individual silver medallist Daniel Hoy and 13th placed Elizabeth Stannard to form Oceania team 1.

Hoy finished the relay for Oceania, 53 seconds behind Europe Team 1 who claimed the gold medal and Europe Team 3 who finished 13 seconds behind the leader.

Van Stekelenburg is over the moon with the teams result and says the format of the mixed event is new and a great experience.

“I’m really happy for the team to get on the podium; it’s an honour to represent not just our country but Oceania as well,” he said.

“We been training together since we arrived in Nanjing and to compete with another country is actually a really special thing and it’s not something you usually do especially at a major championships.”

Dutton started the race for Oceania 1 gaining the lead early into the bike leg. From there the Queenslander pushed away just like she did in the individual event.

“I felt awesome in my first leg! I pushed hard on the bike again and I held my lead,” she said.

Holding a 40 second lead into the first team change, Van Stekelenburg remained in front throughout his leg.

The margin was reduced to 25 seconds with the European teams chasing as the Victorian tagged Stannard for the third leg.

Stannard dropped back during her part to leave Hoy with a 40 second margin to catch up to Europe team 1.

Team Oceania. Credit Scott Taylor/ITU Media

On the final run home for the Oceania team, Hoy was forced to sit in the penalty box for 10 seconds after Dutton incurred a penalty whilst on her bike.

Oceania 1 finished the mixed team relay in a time of 1hr23m10secs, with each athlete competing a 250m swim, 6.6km bike and 1.8km run.

Van Stekelenburg is pleased he could put his individual performance a few days ago behind him and enjoy the podium finish.

“Obviously I wasn’t excited coming off my individual race but to come back and gain time on the bike. To stay away on the run and to come into the transition with about a 25 second gap, I was stoked,” the bronze medallist said.

“You never get to share a medal let alone a team with another country. It’s special and a great experience and it would definitely be an awesome event to have in the Olympics.”

The race featured five Europe teams, four America teams, three Asia teams, one Africa team, one Oceania team, and two World teams.

Triathlon at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games has now concluded.

Article courtesy of Olympics.com.au
Images courtesy of Scott Taylor/ITU Media