Tyler Smith is aiming for a top-20 finish in a competitive field at the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Cozumel, Mexico, this week.

Smith and fellow Bermudian Erica Hawley will face the world’s best juniors in Friday’s race, looking to cap off a busy summer of competition and training.

Both athletes have spent time honing their skills in Victoria, British Columbia, and had seventh-place finishes at this month’s Canadian Junior Elite Series in Edmonton, Alberta.

Smith, 17, competed in the 16-19 junior men’s race and posted a time of 58min 11sec, just over a minute behind winner Pavlos Antoniades, of Canada, who crossed the line in 57:02.

Hawley, 18 and a freshman at Boulder University in Colorado, finished in 1:06:11 in the junior women’s race more than four minutes behind winner Desirae Ridenour, of Canada, in 1:01:57.

Photograph: by The Royal Gazette

Read more: http://www.royalgazette.com/runningtriathlon/article/20160914/smith-hoping-sacrifices-pay-off-in-cozumel