Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Alistair Brownlee takes World Triathlon win in Leeds
Alistair, who graduated in 2013 after studying MSc Finance, produced a dominant display in the inaugural World Triathlon Leeds to take a comfortable win ahead of brother Jonny in second.
Javier Gomez, the reigning world champion who took the silver medal in between the Brownlees at London 2012, finished back in fourth.
Both Alistair and Jonny train at our Headingley Campus and are coached by Leeds Beckett Head Triathlon coach Jack Maitland.
Jack said: “They did a fantastic job and we got the best results we could have got.
“Alistair had an operation back in the autumn so he has been getting back to fitness from that. He has been training really well.
What an amazing finish@AliBrownleetri brings it home in style #WTSLeeds pic.twitter.com/xhGg5p9UWi
— Triathlon Trust (@TriTrust) June 12, 2016
“In the winter he had a bit of a setback when he wasn’t going so well in the Gold Coast. It was really good to see him back from that.”
Alistair and Jonny were selected in the Team GB Olympic Triathlon squad last week alongside Gordon Benson, Non Stanford, Helen Jenkins and Vicky Holland.
The brothers will continue to train in Leeds for the next three weeks and are likely to compete in the next round of the World Triathlon Series in Stockholm at the start of July before stepping up preparations for the Rio Olympics on 18 August.
“Obviously that’s been a major focus for a long time now and is one of those events where there is an emphasis on preparation for it specifically,” Jack continued.
“I wouldn’t read too much into this race. Rio will be a different race, time and field. All we can say is those guys are in good shape and form at the moment. Hopefully they can carry on to be in the shape and form they need to be.”
The women's race was won by phenomenal American Gwen Jorgensen ahead of Flora Duffy of Bermuda and Leeds-based Vicky Holland.
It was the first time Leeds had hosted the series and Leeds Beckett hosted a stand at the Expo at Victoria Gardens, as well as handing out ‘Go Brownlee Brothers’ flags to cheering spectators.
Come and say hello to our @leedsbeckett team at the World Triathlon Series today. GO BROWNLEE BROTHERS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/H4ydJUAnte
— Leeds Beckett Alumni (@BeckettAlumni) June 12, 2016
A decision on whether Leeds will host a leg of the World Series in 2017 will be made later this year.
Jack added: “I was at the start for the women’s race and cycled into town and there was a good crowd all the way round as far as I could see and it was a really good atmosphere in Millennium Square.”
Alistair himself, speaking after claiming his victory, said: “I think I was carried around by the fact it was in Leeds.
"The crowd was just phenomenal - it can lift you and it did today."