GOLD COAST, Australia – Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Emma Moffatt of Australia won the ITU triathlon world championship series grand final on Sunday, clinching the 2009 overall title after a race-long duel with Sweden’s Lisa Norden.
Moffatt beat Norden by five seconds, leaving the Swede in second place overall for the season title after eight races.
Moffatt was fourth out of the 1,500-meter swim leg, while Moffatt and Norden were tied for first after the 40-km cycle.
The Australian and Norden were even for much of the 10K run before Moffatt pulled away with about 200 meters to go. Reigning world champion Helen Jenkins of Britain finished third.
Moffatt finished the race in 1:59:14, with Norden’s official time 1:59:19 and Jenkins finishing in 1:59.41.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better today, everything went to plan,” said Moffatt, who battled a foot injury over the past month after winning earlier world championship series events at Washington, Kitzbuhel and Hamburg. (AP)