Erin Densham’s season best after suffering torn gluteal

Australia's Olympic triathlon bronze medallist Erin Densham has produced her best performance of the season, finishing 12th, in the WTS London overnight, revealing she had carried a torn gluteal muscle for two months. The 30-year-old, who won her bronze in London in 2012, was unaware of how se

Australia’s Olympic triathlon bronze medallist Erin Densham has produced her best performance of the season, finishing 12th, in the WTS London overnight, revealing she had carried a torn gluteal muscle for two months.

The 30-year-old, who won her bronze in London in 2012, was unaware of how serious the problem was until after the WTS Cape Town race last month.

And her performance on limited running training has given her a huge confidence boost leading into the major races at the end of the season.

It was a sprint distance event again dominated by unbeaten Gwen Jorgensen and her US team mates Katie Zaferes and Sarah True in another American trifecta.

Densham was the best of the Australians followed by 2013 Under 23 ITU World Champion Charlotte McShane (16th), Natalie Van Coevorden (26th), Emma Jackson (39th) and Gillian Backhouse (47th).

The dual Olympian said she was “really happy with how that ended up” although not the swim she would have liked, saying she just tried to ride smart.

“I haven’t done the work on the run yet, I actually found out after Cape Town I had a torn glute for two months,” said Densham.

“I had been training and racing with the injury so I had to take time off running after Cape Town.

“But today’s run was beyond where I’m at; and I just tried to hang in there; it’s better than what I expected of myself and I actually asked myself what am I doing up here? I haven’t trained for this yet.

“It was good and I’m really happy with where I’m at leading into the major races like the Rio Test Event at the end of the year.

“I just haven’t been able to do the work yet; I’ve got time now there’s a gap between now and Rio (August 1); time to knuckle down and do the work

“But to be able to run the way I did today and not be close to 100 percent run fit is encouraging, I know its going to come to me.”