Strong effort, but no medal: Campbelltown's own Erin Densham (left) with Lisa Norden of Sweden and Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic competing in the women's triathlon at the Ming Tomb Reservoir in northern Beijing on Monday.
THE one triathlon prize to have eluded Australia – Olympic gold – has finally been won. But despite her gutsy effort, it wasn’t Campbelltown’s Erin Densham crossing the line first.
It was her Australian team-mate, Emma Snowsill, who broke away from the pack in the closing run leg and finished the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in one hour, 58 minutes and 27 seconds.
Fellow Aussie Emma Moffatt took the bronze medal.
Densham, the only other Australian in yesterday’s race, followed a couple of minutes later after missing the breakaway group on the bike and finished a creditable 22nd with a time of 2:03:08.
Densham told the Advertiser before she left for Beijing that it was the swim leg causing her most concern – and that is where she fell behind.
But her strongest leg is the run, and it was in that section that she put on an incredible effort to make up more than 20 places.
Other Campbelltown athletes Kyla Bremner (wrestling) and David Carney (soccer) put in strong efforts but were knocked out early.
Kerry Wyborn, of Camden, and Mel Roche, raised in Campbelltown, were in action for the women’s softball team in their 4-3 loss against Japan in the group stages.
It didn’t get any better for the girls in their next game when they went down 3-0 to the United States.
They restored their hopes with a 3-1 win against China last Thursday and beat Chinese Taipei 3-1, Holland 8-0, Canada 4-0 and Venezuela 9-2.
The top four teams from the eightteam competition advance to the finals.
Australia qualified for the semi-final stage and will face
Canada in the first knockout stage today (Wednesday).
Clinton Hill, from Wilton, joins the 400m relay heats later this week.
On Monday night, Olympic discus debutant Dani Samuels – an arts student from the UWS Campbelltown campus – was ninth (60.15m), and reportedly unhappy with her form. (The gold medal for discus was won by Stephanie Brown Trafton of the US with 64.74m).
Locally based BMXer Nicole Callisto is competing today.
Swimmer Felicity Galvez of Melbourne, who previously used Campbelltown as a training base, was part of the Australian women’s team which won gold in the 4 x 200m relay in Beijing on Friday.
It was her Australian team-mate, Emma Snowsill, who broke away from the pack in the closing run leg and finished the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in one hour, 58 minutes and 27 seconds.
Fellow Aussie Emma Moffatt took the bronze medal.
Densham, the only other Australian in yesterday’s race, followed a couple of minutes later after missing the breakaway group on the bike and finished a creditable 22nd with a time of 2:03:08.
Densham told the Advertiser before she left for Beijing that it was the swim leg causing her most concern – and that is where she fell behind.
But her strongest leg is the run, and it was in that section that she put on an incredible effort to make up more than 20 places.
Other Campbelltown athletes Kyla Bremner (wrestling) and David Carney (soccer) put in strong efforts but were knocked out early.
Kerry Wyborn, of Camden, and Mel Roche, raised in Campbelltown, were in action for the women’s softball team in their 4-3 loss against Japan in the group stages.
It didn’t get any better for the girls in their next game when they went down 3-0 to the United States.
They restored their hopes with a 3-1 win against China last Thursday and beat Chinese Taipei 3-1, Holland 8-0, Canada 4-0 and Venezuela 9-2.
The top four teams from the eightteam competition advance to the finals.
Australia qualified for the semi-final stage and will face
Canada in the first knockout stage today (Wednesday).
Clinton Hill, from Wilton, joins the 400m relay heats later this week.
On Monday night, Olympic discus debutant Dani Samuels – an arts student from the UWS Campbelltown campus – was ninth (60.15m), and reportedly unhappy with her form. (The gold medal for discus was won by Stephanie Brown Trafton of the US with 64.74m).
Locally based BMXer Nicole Callisto is competing today.
Swimmer Felicity Galvez of Melbourne, who previously used Campbelltown as a training base, was part of the Australian women’s team which won gold in the 4 x 200m relay in Beijing on Friday.
Picture: Reuters/Desmond Boyland
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