Canada finishes 5th at inaugural triathlon mixed relay worlds

Canada's elite and U-23 mixed relay teams both fought for fifth-place finishes to cap off the inaugural World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships in Montreal on Sunday.

Two-time Olympian, Tyler Mislawchuk, led a new-look squad of Canucks to the start line in the elite race. The Oak Bluff, Man., resident was joined by Emy Legault (Ile Perrot, Que.), Charles Paquet (Port-Cartier, Que.) and Dominika Jamnicky (Guelph, Ont.). The Canadian four-pack combined for a time of 1:29:06.

"It has been the most incredible experience. To get back to this level of racing and be able to put my foot in there and give it my all, it was a dream come true," said Jamnicky, who took on the anchor leg for Team Canada. "To be alongside three amazing, talented Canadian triathletes and to toe the line for them it was unreal."

Mislawchuk took on the opening leg where he was in top-six position until the intense and lightning-quick run where he dropped to 12th. Canada's emerging star, Legault, dug deep to get the red and white back into the race.

Coming off a career-best 12th-place World Triathlon Championship Series finish in the individual race, the 26-year-old Quebecer powered through the choppy waters to position herself in a fight on the bike. With four nations breaking away, the 26-year-old Legault worked well in the chase pack to help form one large group of 12 heading into transition two.

Jamnicky was in seventh spot for the swim and bike before feeding off the boisterous hometown crowd with a spirited run to climb into fifth.

"The streets were lined with people yelling and screaming for us and that is exactly what I needed for us to come top-five today," said Jamnicky. "I'm incredibly, incredibly happy."

France was crowned as the World Mixed Relay champions after breaking the finish tape with a time of 1:27:14. Great Britain stormed to the silver medal at 1:27:37, while the Americans won the battle for the bronze at 1:27:44.