Japan wins again in Incheon

by Erin Greene on 26 Sep, 2014 04:18

Japan continued its hot streak in Incheon, South Korea today, winning the Mixed Relay in the event’s debut at Asian Games. The four person woman-man-woman-man relay won the race by more than a minute ahead of the home country’s South Korea, followed by China with bronze.

Japan led the race line to line, with their lead triathlete jutting to a 15-second advantage at the end of the mini triathlon. But determined to make an impression at home, South Korea’s second leg managed to bring the race back to a one-second battle.

Although China’s second athlete clocked just the fifth-fastest split in his round, it was enough to keep China to maintain their third-place position earned by the first relay member.

But with two athletes left to compete, Japan’s third athlete ended all doubts about who would top the podium with a massive leg that earned the team a 30-second lead. China managed to gain half a minute on South Korea, halving their distance to the home team. Meanwhile, Hong Kong was a distant minute behind the Chinese with one man left to compete.

While Japan could have coasted through the final spin around the Mixed Relay course, their anchor put in the fastest split of all the anchors to cement Japan’s third gold medal of the Games in triathlon. South Korea scored its first ever Asian Games triathlon medal with silver, while China took its third bronze of the week.

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