Snowsill wins, Moffatt repeats
Back from injuries, Emma Snowsill ran away from the field to win the Dextro Energy ITU World Championship series Grand Final in Budapest by 1 minute 44 seconds. Behind Snowsill, Emma Moffatt outsprinted WCs points rivals Nicola Spirig and Lisa Norden by 1 and 2 seconds respectively to take the series championship. The series win and its world championship status gave Moffatt two world titles, which puts her in exalted company, even with Karen Smyers (1990 and 1995) and Michellie Jones (1992 and 1993) and Emma Carney (1994 and 1997) in ITU Olympic distance worlds titles and one behind Snowsill's three ITU World titles.
"I think the second title definitely means more than the first," said the very happy Moffatt. "I don't know that it has really sunk in yet though. I'm really happy about my finish and also really happy to see another Aussie get the win today. It was a great day for Australia."
First out of the water was American Sarah Haskins with teammate Laura Bennett and Brit Helen Jenkins right there too.
A group of 16 women led by Haskins and Jenkins rolled down the road and were chased be another pack with was pulled by Swede Lisa Norden and Swiss Nicola Spirig. It didn't take the second group too long to catch the first one and after about 7k on the bike they were together. Snowsill had a great swim and was indeed in the front group unlike many other times, but Kiwi Andrea Hewitt who was sitting in the second spot before this final event, had a poor swim and missed the big group. No matter how hard she chased with help from team mate Nicky Samuels, she could not get closer. Meanwhile the front group was flying along and reached the second transition well ahead of Hewitt.
Once one the run, both Emmas were soon at the front of the race and Snowsill soon was in the lead by herself. Snowsill's performance on the big day was indeed stunning, but the race for the World Championship was happening behind her. The tiny Aussie had missed too many events and points because of injuries to fight for the title, but even so, no other female was able to touch her today. Snowsill crossed the finish line in first place about 1:45 before the sprint for the title began. Moffatt, Spirig and Norden were a few steps ahead of Vicky Holland, Paula Findlay and Helen Jenkins, and for a brief moment it looked like Sprig was getting the better of Moffatt. But Moffatt was too strong and beat Spirig to the line for second place, to repeat her title from 2009, making it a great day for Australia.
The third place for Spirig helped her make a big jump in the series to finish second in the series behind Moffatt. Norden's 4th place was good enough to give her the final podium spot.
"It's so exciting to be on the podium at the biggest race of the year," said Spirig. "It's been an amazing year and this was the perfect way to end it. Snowsill was in a class of her own today. I wanted to go with her, but she's just too fast."
Related galleries:
2010 Elite female WCS finals gallery
2010 male Elite World Championship gallery
2010 U23 World Championship gallery
Dextro Energy World Championship Series Grand Final
Budapest, Hungary
September 12, 2010
S 1.5k/ B 40k/ R 10k
Grand Final Results
Elite Women
1. Emma Snowsill (AUS) 1:49:43
2. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1:51:27
3. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1:51:28
4. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:51:29
5. Paula Findlay (CAN) 1:51:31
6. Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:51:32
7. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1:51:35
8. Laura Bennett (USA) 1:51:36
9. Carla Peon (FRA) 1:51:38
10. Jure Ide (JPN) 1:51:55
20. Sarah Haskins (USA) 1:53:05
28. Sarah Groff (USA) 1:53:50
32. Jillian Peterson (USA) 1:54:09
45. Alicia Kaye (USA) 1:57:30
49. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 1:59:15
World Championship Series Final Standings
1. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 3806
2. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 3413
3. Lisa Norden (SWE) 3390
4. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 3184
5. Paula Findlay (CAN) 3016
6. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 2877
7. Kate Roberts (RSA) 2731
8. Vicky Holland (GBR) 2652
9. Mariko Adachi (JPN) 2577
10. Laura Bennett (USA) 2536
