Australian triathlete Jake Birtwhistle has replicated his Commonwealth Games silver medal by producing another sizzling sprint finish at the ITU race in Yokohama.
The Tasmanian flew home on the run leg to claim second place, 41 seconds behind dominant Spaniard Mario Mola while his compatriot Fernando Alarza was third.
It was another impressive display from the 23-year-old in the Japanese city on Saturday in the third round of the world triathlon series competed over the Olympic distance.
Birtwhistle also moved up to third in the series standings, with Mola extending his massive lead at the summit.
Just five weeks ago at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, a blistering final leg lifted Birtwhistle to second spot behind gold medallist South African Henri Schoeman.
Mola controlled the race perfectly to hit the tape in a time of 1:44.59.
Of the other Australians, Ryan Bailie was seventh, Luke Willian two spots further back, Aaron Royle 19th and Matt Hauser 22nd.
In the women's race, Bermuda's Commonwealth Games gold medallist Flora Duffy (1:53.25) won from American Katie Zaferes and Great Britain's Non Stanford.
Australia's Ashleigh Gentle was fourth, while her countrywomen Charlotte McShane (ninth), Gillian Backhouse (11th), Natalie Van Coevorden (14th) and Emma Jeffcoat (17th) enjoyed solid results.
The next stop on the world series is in Nottingham, England on June 7.
