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Local Elite Triathlon athlete, Jason Wilson at the front of the pack followed by John Rasmussen and Charles Paquet with Miuel Hildalgo during action in the 2018 Bridgetown CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championship yesterday on the Spring Garden Highway. Wilson, narrowly missed out on an overall victory during the event.

Jason Wilson second on home soil

After leading most of the way, Barbados’ Elite Triathlon athlete, Jason Wilson, narrowly missed out on an overall victory yesterday on the Spring Garden Highway.

Competing in the 2018 Bridgetown CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championship, Wilson was one of 18 athletes that lined up on the beach start for the morning event which took the competitors along a 750m swim, followed by 20km Bike ride and then capped it off with a 5km run.

Wilson, who last won his home event in 2013 from New Zealand’s Michael Poole in 58.21 secs, lead off the beach with a near perfect start which placed him at the front of the pack during the swim.

Wilson and the eventual winner John Rasmussen from Canada both sat at the front of the swim and exited the water at the same time completing the swim in nine minutes and 18 seconds.

However, it was an amazing transition for Wilson as he sprinted up the sand and was hitting the bike in 24 seconds which was matched by Rasmussen.

The Bike and Run courses share the same tarmac with almost zero elevation except for an incline at the north turn for the Bike.

A group of six athletes separated themselves from the rest and they were Rasmussen, Wilson, Charles Paquet (Canada), Michael Arishita (USA), Miguel Hidalgo (Brazil) and Pablo Herrera (Costa Rica).

The rain had stopped in time for the Men’s Elite Race and the 10 a.m. start allowed the road to dry and not be as slippery and tricky as it was with the women who saw a number of falls.

The Bike ride took the athlete five laps and just over 32 minutes to complete as Wilson was first once again to leave the transition area for the two-lap run.
The group of six athletes had dwindled to four with Hidalgo and Paquet joining Wilson and Rasmussen.

On the return from the north turn, the young Hidalgo has been unhitched leaving the lone Bajan against the two Canadians with Rasmussen tucked in behind Wilson in second place.
At the start of the bell lap Paquet went to the front followed by Rasmussen and then Wilson.

However, it was on the second lap that the telling blow was delivered as Rasmussen began his kick for home earlier than the group had anticipated breaking Wilson and Paquet just after the final water station and was never caught again.

Wilson was 19 seconds behind Rasmussen who had an amazing 15 minutes 40 seconds 5K run to win in an overall time of 57 minutes and 50 seconds.
Wilson was second, but was the CAC champion in 58 minutes 06 seconds.

Third place went to Paquet in 58 minutes 18 seconds, while Arishita slipped past Hidalgo to finish fourth and Hidalgo had to settle for fifth.

Wilson said the race was good and it was a very technical race with the wind, but he hasn’t been doing anything special as yet for the events.
He said he was doing a lot of base work as his last event was Run Barbados in December.

Eyeing Olympics once again Wilson said that the qualification does open until May 12.

He now heads to Australia for a World Cup and then New Zealand for another World Cup and then Common Wealth games.

In the Elite Women race, Canadian Dominika Jammicky lead after the swim and had a 30 second lead erased by American Sophie Chase on the run to have to settle for second.
Jammicky said she knew the American were fast runners and she tried to pen enough cushion in the ride to survive.

However, on the last lap heading for the north turn she was caught and passed though she stuck close till the end never letting Chase open any type of advantage.
Chase finished in one hour two minutes and 22 seconds, while Jammicky was a mere second off in the sprint to the finish.

Third place went to Mary Alex England from the USA in 1:02.51. Sarah Alexander was fourth and Megan Foley also from the USA was fifth.
In the relay the winning team included Oein Josiah, Amy Cox, Burkley Lowe and Guy Beasley.

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