Aussie triathlete has lead cut

29 Sep 2012, 1:49 pm   -   Source: AAP
Australian Erin Densham's lead in this year's ITU triathlon world championship crown has been cut. (AAP)

Australian Erin Densham's lead in this year's ITU triathlon world championship crown has been cut. (AAP)

Australian triathlete Erin Densham has had her world championship lead cut heading into next month's series-deciding event in New Zealand.

Australian Erin Densham's lead in the race for this year's ITU triathlon world championship crown has been narrowed down to just 30 points after Saturday's second last round in Yokohama.

The fiercely determined Olympic bronze medallist finished a gallant fifth to London silver medallist, Sweden's Lisa Norden, who fought tooth and nail to win a thriller from German Anne Haug and is hot on Densham's hammer in the charge towards the title.

It was almost a replay of the Olympic finish, this time with six runners together until the closing stages and Norden, who lost in a head-dip to Switzerland's Nicola Spirig in London, just edged out Haug in another dramatic finish.

Emerging Dutch star Caelers grabbed the bronze before the arrival of the brave Australian contingent, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Emma Moffatt, Densham and rising star Ashleigh Gentle, who finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Densham will go into the grand final decider in Auckland on October 20-21 on 3611 points, 30 points ahead of Norden with Spirig, who has not entered the event, sitting in third on 3264.

New Zealand's Andrea Hewitt (3141), Haug (3140) and 2009 and 2010 World Champion Moffatt (2856) round out the top six.

And despite her fearless finish for fifth, Densham was quick to admit she was more than happy with a performance which came in the middle of a hard training block, knowing she will arrive into New Zealand in three weeks fully tapered.

She also knows that the winner of this year's crown will be decided between herself and Norden, with the Auckland grand final round holding double points.

"I was just glad to stay in the race for as long as I did and that showed some really encouraging signs going into Auckland," Densham said.

"I have a lot to work on and there is only a short turn around but still time to nail a few things on the head.

"But overall I was actually feeling a lot better than I thought I would."

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