The USA’s Allysa Seely secured her sixth consecutive World Paratriathlon Series win with another impressive victory in the women’s PTS2 in Yokohama on Saturday. The reigning world champion crossed the line in 1:19:38, using her signature run speed to finish nearly a minute ahead of Great Britain’s Fran Brown. Finland’s Liisa Lilja completed the podium, repeating her bronze medal performance from last month’s opening series event in Milan, Italy.
Seely was one of three US gold medallists in Yokohama with Grace Norman and Kelly Elmlinger both securing victories in their respective classes. Norman was victorious in a thrilling battle with Great Britain’s Claire Cashmore in the women’s PTS5. The Paralympic champion managed to overturn a 35-second deficit to Cashmore after the bike to stop the clock at 1:07:49, 12 seconds ahead of the world silver medallist. France’s Gwladys Lemoussu was over two minutes further back in third.
In the women’s PTS4, Elmlinger was trailing Japan’s Mami Tani after the swim. But the US triathlete used her strength on the bike and run to finish more than two minutes ahead of Tani to secure gold in a head-to-head battle between the pair.
Great Britain’s Jade Jones-Hall was back on top of the podium, 12 months after competing in her last international triathlon. Jones-Hall overtook both Australia’s world bronze medallist Lauren Parker and the USA’s Kendall Gretsch on the run, before powering away to finish 32 seconds ahead of Gretsch in the women’s PTWC.
Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida was the quickest athlete over the run course. But the home favourite was unable to catch Parker, who claimed bronze.
Three-time world champion Stefan Daniel secured gold in his first international triathlon since March. The Canadian was the only PTS5 athlete to complete the course in under an hour, with the USA’s Chris Hammer coming the closest to Daniel’s time of 58 minutes, 54 seconds. Hammer beat out Russia’s Alexandr Ialchik, who came in third.
After successfully adding the Aquathlon world title to her world gold earlier this month, Spain’s Susana Rodriguez finished ahead of Australia’s Katie Kelly and Great Britain’s Melissa Reid, respectively, to claim one of two Spanish golds in the PTVI events.
Jose Luis Garcia Serrano was half minute ahead of Australia’s Jonathan Goerlach in the men’s PTVI to ensure double Spanish success, with bronze going to the USA’s Brad Snyder.
Double delight
The Netherlands’ Geert Schipper was victorious in the men’s PTWC, outlasting Italy’s Giovanni Achenza and bronze medal finisher Alexandre Paviza.
Seven seconds were the difference between gold and silver in the men’s PTS3, with Nico Van Der Burgt adding a second gold for the Netherlands ahead of Russia’s Victor Chebotarev. Spain’s Joaquin Carrasco was third.
France’s Alexis Hanquinquant followed up his success from Milan with another gold in the men’s PTS4. The double world champion led from start to finish to complete the course in 1:02:43. China’s Jiachao Wang was next to cross the line, followed by Japan’s Hideki Uda.
Stephane Bahier secured more success for France with victory in the men’s PTS2, crossing the line more than a minute ahead of Russia’s Vasilii Egorov. Geoffrey Wersy ensured there were two French triathletes on the podium.
Russia’s Anna Plotnikova was the sole competitor in the women’s PTS3.