HAMBURG, Ger.—Tyler Mislawchuk threw down the best World Championship result of his career, racing to ninth in the first ever elimination format at the World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships.
The 28-year-old proved he is amongst the world’s elite after earning a spot in Saturday’s 10-man final super-sprint dash which had athletes racing a 300-metre swim, 7.5-kilometre bike and a 1.75-kilometre run in Hamburg, Germany.
Mislawchuk clocked a time of 19:47 for ninth spot in the final race. He bettered his previous best World Championship by one spot. The two-time Olympian was 10th at the 2018 Olympic distance triathlon extravaganza in Gold Coast, Australia.
“It was a pretty solid day out there. I am pleased with the result,” said Mislawchuk, who has been consistent all season with a 12th and two, 15th-place finishes on the World Triathlon Championship Series.
“Today was another step forward. It’s always bittersweet knowing how close you are to the front but nice to be back in the top-10. In the last round, my hamstrings just tightened up but I am pleased with the effort.”
The Oak Bluff, Man. resident secured his spot in Saturday’s three-race showdown after finishing his Friday qualifier in ninth spot. The qualifiers and repechage races qualified the fastest 30 athletes through to the weekend. In each of Saturday’s first two stages, the bottom 10 athletes were cut from the field, leaving 10 men battling for the World Championship crown into the evening.
Mislawchuk was solid throughout each stage. He was first across the line in Saturday’s opener before locking up his ticket for the medal race by finishing seventh.
“Four super sprints in two days – without a doubt it’s a format that I wouldn’t say is my strongest suit, so it definitely feels nice to be tossing shoulders with the best guys in the world again,” added Mislawchuk.
“It’s nice to be back in the top-10. I’m happy with the performance, the effort and all of the support around this event because it’s tough to get the nutrition right, the cooling right and getting all of the times right so a big thanks to all of the Triathlon Canada crew helping out in Hamburg.”
New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde was crowned World Sprint champ for 2023, winning the final with a time of 19:26. Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca won the sprint for the silver medal at 19:28, edging out Alex Yee (Great Britain) in the photo finish.
Charles Paquet, of Port Cartier, Que., also lined up on Saturday but was eliminated in the first stage after crossing the line 25th. Brock Hoel, of West Kelowna, B.C., was 37th overall.
Dominika Jamnicky, of Guelph, Ont., was the first alternate for Saturday’s trio of women’s races after a solid Friday qualifier and repechage race, but didn’t get the nod. Jamnicky placed 31st overall.
Cassandre Beaugrand, of France, put her name in the history books as the first woman to win the super sprint World Championship format. Beaugrand clocked a time of 21:35 in the final.
Beth Potter, of Great Britain, was second at 21:45. Potter shared the podium with her teammate, Laura Lindemann, who was two seconds back (21:47) in the bronze medal position.
Earlier in the day, a four pack of Canada’s next generation of triathlon elite finished 12th in the U23-Junior Mixed Team Relay Championships. Brock Hoel and Sidney Clement – both from British Columbia – joined forces with Quebecers Mathis Beaulieu and Maïra Carreau to post a time of 1:28:43.
Germany won the Relay with a time of 1:25:02. Italy was second at 1:25:10 followed by the Kiwis in third with a time of 1:25:45.
The elite Mixed Team Relay World Championship race is slated for Sunday.
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