Gentle earns Comm Games tri selection

Apr 8, 2017 - 6:28 AM Australian triathlete Ashleigh Gentle has consigned her disappointing Rio Olympics to history by securing Gold Coast Commonwealth Games selection.

The 26-year-old finished runner-up to New Zealander Andrea Hewitt on Saturday on the Gold Coast at round two of the World Triathlon Series.

Gentle was rapt when she crossed the line four seconds behind Hewitt, knowing the importance of the result.

The first Australian in the men's and women's races, provided they finish in the top 10, earned automatic nominations.

It means that provided Gentle is fit next April, she has a guaranteed spot in the Australian Games team.

"It's a really good feeling to come into a race with a plan and execute it," she said.

"To secure that spot for the Commonwealth Games is such a big bonus."

Gentle made her Olympic debut with high hopes, but she struggled in the swim and finished 26th.

At the start of this year the Gold Coast native moved to Wollongong to work with renowned triathlon coach Jamie Turner and his Wollongong Wizards squad.

American Gwen Jorgensen did the same after her disappointing London Olympics and became the best in the world on the way to winning the Rio gold medal.

Gentle was 26th after the 750m swim in choppy conditions at Southport, the same location for next year's Games triathlon.

She was in a chase group that caught the leaders on the windy 20km bike and she was well-placed at the start of the 5km run, just three seconds behind compatriot Gillian Backhouse.

Hewitt won in 58 minutes and three seconds after also winning round one and Japan's Juri Ide was third, four seconds behind Gentle.

Charlotte McShane capped a strong day for the Australian women by finishing sixth and Emma Jeffcoat was 11th, while Backhouse took 15th.

Gentle prefers Olympic-distance racing, which is twice the length of Saturday's format, but she showed an impressive turn of speed to take second spot.

The Commonwealth Games triathlon will also be a sprint-distance race.

"No matter what you like, what you prefer, you've got to adapt," she said.

Gentle said it was a big relief to gain Games selection.

Earlier on Saturday, Emily Tapp won the women's hand cycle division and Bill Chaffey was runner-up in the men's race to earn Australian paratriathlon spots at the Games.

Source: AAP