GB triathletes shine in World Cup

Northampton's Hollie Avil grabbed a stunning bronze and Tim Don finished fifth as Britain's triathletes impressed at the World Cup in Japan.

Avil, the 2007 European and World Junior Triathlon Champion, will now compete in Britain's final Olympic qualifying race in Madrid next month.

Don, the 2006 world champion from London, ran through from 17th to fifth.

Fellow Brit Will Clarke finished 11th, while Canadian Simon Whitfield took first in 1 hour 51 minutes 12 seconds.

Clarke is guaranteed his Olympics place unless one of his team-mates can better his seventh position from the World Cup event in Beijing last year.

Competing in her World Cup debut, Avil battled throughout with Japan's Jude Ide and Canada's Kathy Tremblay and secured her bronze with a strong sprint finish.

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"I was the under-23 world champion in 2006 but I'm now mixing it with the big boys"
GB triathlete Will Clarke

Australia's Emma Snowsill claimed gold ahead of team-mate Erin Densham.

Avil, one day after celebrating her 18th birthday, said: "I'm really, really happy. My swim wasn't great but I never give up.

"I always say the race isn't over until the finish line and I knew that I could get onto the run and give a good performance."

Scotland's Kerry Lang finished in 12th, marking her best performance of the year, just ahead of Bridgend's Helen Tucker in 14th.

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