Audrey Merle of France, eager to avenge her bronze medal finish last year in the Junior Women’s category at the ITU World Championship, moved up in class and earned gold in the Under 23 Women's race at the ITU Grand Final in Chicago.

Merle and fellow Frenchwoman Leonie Periault entered the blue carpet at the finish line side by side, and with a final burst of energy, Merle hit the tape first by a fraction of a second. Merle and Periault were recorded in equal 1:04:35 times, 11 seconds ahead of 3rd-place finisher Melanie Santos of Portugal.

U.S competitor Avery Evenson finished 4th, 6 seconds back of Santos.

Race recap

Lizeth Rueda Santos of Mexico led the swim, shortened to one 750-meter lap to finish before an anticipated late afternoon thunderstorm, in a time of 9:40, 20 seconds before Australian Natalia Van Coevorden, 22 seconds ahead of Avery Evenson of the U.S., and 34 and 35 seconds ahead of Periault and Merle.

While Rueda and Van Coevorden led early on the bike, halfway through the 20km cycle leg they were joined by 10 women including Evenson, Johanna Gartman of the U.S., Shiho Sato of Japan, Chloe Cook of Great Britain, and Dominica Jamnicky of Canada. By the end four more women joined the lead pack, making sure and that the race would be settled by the runners.

Quickly on the run, Merle and Periault surged to the front and made sure that the race would be decided by the drama at the finish.

ITU World Championship Grand Final
Chicago, Illinois
September 18, 2015
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k

Results

Under 23 Women

1. Audrey Merle (FRA) 1:04:35
2. Leonie Periault (FRA) 1:04:35
3. Melanie Santos (POR) 1:04:46
4. Avery Evenson (USA) 1:04:52
5. Miriam Casillas Garcia (ESP) 1:05:12
6. Vanesa De La Torre (MEX) 1:05:20
7. Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) 1:05:23
8. Chloe Cook (GBR) 1:05:26
9. Johanna Gartman (USA) 1:05:29
10. Lizeth Rueda Santos (MEX) 1:05:41