Taylor Knibb retains title, Kate Waugh takes Silver at Junior World Champs

Back-to-back World Junior Championship titles to Taylor Knibb

Great Britain’s Kate Waugh takes a surprise Silver in Rotterdam

After a truly fantastic performance from the Paratriathlon team this morning, the British medal success continued in the Women’s Junior Championship at the Rotterdam ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.

The defending World Junior Champion from Cozumel 12 months ago, the USA’s Taylor Knibb was the hot favourite to defend that title today in Rotterdam, given that she has already collected a Senior World Triathlon Series podium this season when finishing second to the dominant Flora Duffy in Edmonton. There will be no surprises today when the Gold medal is presented.

The 750m Sprint distance swim saw a long line of athletes heading in to T1, headed by Fuka Sega (JPN), who raced so well two weeks ago at the Accenture British Triathlon Mixed Relay Cup. Knibb was inside the top-10, and just 12 seconds back with the ace in her pack – the bike – up next. Sophie Alden (10:11), Olivia Matthias (10:15) and Kate Waugh (10:16) were all in perfect position and inside the top-10 at this stage from a British perspective.

Knibb won her title in Cozumel off of the back of a solo bike breakaway, and would do the same again in Rotterdam. Her 31:11 split was more than 20 seconds faster than anyone else, and she would start the closing 5km run with a 45 second lead over a group of seven athletes, which included both Waugh and Alden.

Back to back World Champ! @taylorknibb!!! Women's Junior Title! #RotterdamGF pic.twitter.com/Rr3w3zvDE4

— TriathlonLIVE (@triathlonlive) September 15, 2017

Knibb showed no weakness on the run, her 17:39 clocking was faster than everyone, except Kate Waugh, who with a 17:19 clocking ran through to take the Silver medal. That adds to her European Junior Championship title earlier this year along with Silver in 2016 at the World Junior Duathlon Championships. A consistent championship medal winning athlete, that is a good sign for her future career through the U23 and Senior ranks.