TRIATHLON: London Olympian Emma Jackson has produced a fantastic swim and killer run leg to claim her first ITU World Cup victory in Tongyeong, South Korea on Saturday. Her 10km run split was 47 seconds faster than anyone else in the field to seal the commanding victory.

The Australian won by a huge margin of one minute and 28 seconds, in a total time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 49 seconds.

Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic was second in the small field while Jackson’s team mate Australia's Natalie Van Coevorden picked up her first ITU World Cup medal with bronze (2:04.59) despite serving a 15 second penalty for not putting her swim goggles in the transition basket.

Jackson, who placed eighth at the London Olympics and sixth at the 2013 ITU Grand Final in London, was very pleased with the breakthrough win. 

“I’m very happy to have my first World Cup win, I just wanted to come to Tongyeong and execute a really good race and I was hoping for a win,” Jackson said. “I didn’t have a great start to the season so I’m really happy with the way my season ended and to end it with a win.” 

Jackson’s other podium in 2013 came in Kitzbuehel and she said the addition of the hill on the Tongyeong run course had played to her advantage. 

“It was a bit of a difference, but it kind of reminded me of Kitzbuehel a bit and I really enjoyed it.” 

The 22-year-old Queenslander had a slow start to 2013 but her form definitely improved as the season went on. She was second out of the water in the non-wetsuit swim and was part of a seven-strong breakaway on the 40km bike leg that added time to the chase on each of the five laps. 

That group took almost a two-minute lead leaving T2 meaning that the medals were almost certainly in it. But after the first lap it was clear that it was Jackson's race, as she pulled 25 seconds ahead of Frintova. Behind her Frintova claimed silver, her second World Cup podium place after her 2010 Mooloolaba win. 

Australia’s remaining trio Tamsyn Moana-Veale (2:05.22) finished fourth, ITU World Under 23 champion Charlotte McShane (2:06.02) was eighth with Grace Musgrove (2:06.16) ninth.

Watch the Women’s ITU Race Highlights here>>>

Featonby Fourth

In the men’s race Australia’s sole representative Jesse Featonby (1:51:34) went so close to his first World Cup podium.

He was positioned well over the final kilometres of the run but was outsprinted in teh final 100 metres and finished fourth. Perhaps his kick killed off by producing the fastest ride split on the tough bike leg.

The 25-year-old from Albury can be very proud to be fourth and only 11 seconds behind experienced French winner Tony Moulai (1:51:23).

The Australian has had a strong international season in second-tier events as he looks to make the next step to World Triathlon Series races in 2014.

Watch the Men’s ITU Race Highlights here>>>

AOC with ITU