Canada Junior Update

Canada’s Andrew Yorke Posts Career Best Sixth Place at Triathlon World Cup

May 8, 2012

HUATULCO, Mex.—Canada’s Andrew Yorke had the triathlon race of his life while finishing sixth at a

World Cup in Huatulco, Mexico on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Yorke, whose previous best international result was a 13th at the Under-23 World

Championships last year, clocked a time of two hours, three minutes, seven seconds (2:03:07).

“This feels pretty darn good. I’m racing to win and it is a huge boost for my confidence,” said Yorke, of

Caledon, Ont. “I really want to show Triathlon Canada, and myself, this year that I belong on the pro

circuit, and I’m not just here to show up. I’m trying to win. That’s what I train to do and I’m not content

on being average.”

Yorke raced with the poise of seasoned veteran from start-to-finish on Saturday. Very comfortable in

the 1.5-kilometre swim despite doing little open water training early in the season, Yorke put himself in

the lead group on the bike where he took a breather for the first few laps before kicking it up a gear

with the top four in the field for the final laps of the 40-kilometre ride.

“It was really hot and I tried to stay hydrated as much as possible with ice and water. I was pretty

much losing the grip on the handlebars on the descent because of how much I was sweating,” said

Yorke. “I got out first on the run, and told myself I’ve never lost a race once I had taken the lead. I kept

the pace honest.”

“The effects of the heat were too much and I started cramping. I tried to hold on for the win as best as

I could, but the lights were going out and I just didn’t quite have it in the end to hang on for the

podium.”

Belgian Simon De Cuyper battled through the extreme heat to win the gold with a time of 2:02:34,

while Ryan Sissons, of New Zealand, was second at 2:02:50. Danylo Sapunov, of the Ukraine,

clocked-in at 2:02:54 to claim the bronze medal.

Victoria’s Matt Sharpe finished 34th (2:07:57), while Andre McCartney, also of Victoria, did not finish

the race.

Bermuda’s Flora Duffy won her first World Cup race in the women’s division after posting a time of

2:13:17.

Manon Letourneau was the only Canadian on the women’s start line, but pulled out of the race

after the second transition heading onto the run.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Amelie Kretz stormed her way to the gold medal in the junior women’s PATCO

North American Championships on Saturday in Huatulco. The Gatineau, Que., native clocked a first-

place time of 1:06.11 in the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike, and five-kilometre run course.

Kretz finished 34 seconds ahead of Mexico’s Adriana Barraza, who finished second at 1:06:45.

Mexico’s Vanesa Dela Torre rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 1:07:27.

Kretz was one of three Canadians to lead the pack out of the water in the talented junior field.

Saskatoon’s Gabrielle Edwards narrowly missed the podium in fourth place at 1:08:55, while Camille

Delamarre, also of Quebec, placed fifth at 1:09:34.

Alexis Lepage, of Gatineau, Que., was the top junior male in sixth spot at 1:00:09. Mexico’s Eduardo

Moreno grabbed the gold with a time of 59:03.

For a complete list of junior results, please visit www.triathlon.org

Triathlon Canada is the governing body for triathlon in the country. Recognized as an Olympic medal sport since 2000, Triathlon Canada’s mandate is to promote, foster, organize and develop the sport of triathlon, and its related disciplines, in Canada. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com on the Internet.

Complete Results: www.triathlon.org