New Plymouth: American star Gwen Jorgensen gave her Olympics preparation an early boost with a commanding win Sunday in the women's race at the ITU World Cup New Plymouth triathlon.
Jorgensen completed the 750 meter sea swim, 20 kilometre cycle and 5 kilometre run in 58 minutes, 51 seconds, finishing 22 seconds ahead of New Zealand's Andrea Hewitt. Kirsten Kaspar of the United States was third.
Jorgensen says she will contest next week's World Triathlon Series event on Australia's Gold Coast "but the sole focus for me is August 20th, the Rio Olympics, so all of this has just been kind of training for that."
South Africa's Richard Murray defended his title in the men's race, finishing in 53 minutes, 8 seconds, coming in 20 seconds ahead of Andreas Schilling of Denmark.