Stanford Eighth In Games Triathlon

Non Stanford’s hopes of getting Wales’ Commonwealth Games campaign off to a medal winning start were dashed on the Gold Coast on Thursday morning.

The 29-year-old finished eighth in the triathlon at the Southport Broadwater Parklands as Bermuda’s hot favourite Flora Duffy took gold,

Stanford was among a group of runners battling for the bronze medal after she finished the bike leg but slipped off the pace in the 5km run section.

Swansea-born Stanford told Dai Sport: “I’m a little bit disappointed with the result. I didn’t come here to finish eighth, I came here to get a medal.

“The swim was a bit of a fight from the start. The rest of the field were fighting each other and the girls got away.

“That was a bit of a tough start when you look around and see who’s in your group. It wasn’t part of the plan.

“I felt really comfortable on the bike, trying to conserve energy and not do too much work but I got on the run and just didn’t have the legs.

“I missed the group going out which meant I had the head wind on my own all the way back in.

“It was just a tough day and I didn’t quite have it today. I’m disappointed as I really wanted to get the team off to a good start.

“But hopefully I’ll show them that you have got to pick yourself up when it’s not quite going right and keep fighting.”

Stanford, who missed the last Commonwealths in Glasgow through injury, finished the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run in 58 minutes 45 seconds.

That left the Leeds-based triathlete one minute 55 seconds adrift of Duffy who won in 56 mins 50 secs.

England’s Jess Learmouth claimed silver 43 secs back with Joanna Brown of Canada third just five seconds adrift after a strong run section.

Stanford, fourth at the Rio Olympics two years ago, was in 12th spot after the swim and in a group of contenders one minute 13 secs down on the top two after the bike.

But after slipping out of contention vowed to come back fighting in Saturday’s team relay event.

Stanford added: “I just had a bit of a rubbish transition to be honest, was fumbling around a bit. I never quite got myself into that group so coming back down into the headwind I kept losing time.

“That was definitely one of my tactical errors not pushing myself harder to get into that group but hindsight in a great thing isn’t it.

“You always think you could have done more at the finish but at the time it’s hard. I am disappointed but I hold my head up and it’s been a great experience, my first Commonwealths.

“It’s just great to be out there and be part of the team.

“The conditions were tough, but the sea was a lot better than it was in the recce. We were expecting it to be a lot choppier than that, but it was just the wind really.

“We have got another race on Saturday so I have got to dust myself down and come back on fighting.”