Bermuda’s Erica Hawley and Tyler Smith enjoyed an encouraging preparation for the upcoming Pan American Games by both finishing sixteenth in their respective elite races at the World Triathlon Cup Brasilia, in Brazil.

In advance of the duo representing the island at the Games in Santiago, Chile on November 2, it was a final opportunity to put in some groundwork against strong competition.

In a strong women’s field, Hawley exited the water after the 1,500m swim in 19min 42sec, clocked 1hr 2min 33sec on the 40-kilometre cycle and completed the 10km run in 39:24 for a combined time of 2:03:09, slightly more than three minutes adrift of Italy’s Alice Betto’s.

Former world champion and two-time Olympic medal winner Katie Zaferes, of the United States, hung on in a final sprint to claim silver ahead of Mexico’s Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal, while only 25 of the 36 competitors completed the race.

“It was nice to be back at this beautiful venue in Brasilia after racing here in 2018,” Hawley wrote on her Instagram account. “Ended up 16th on the day after losing a ‘sprint’ for the money with Valerie Barthelemy.

“Was looking for a better end-result, but was able to be more competitive in critical parts of the race, and there are lots of signs of progress.”

There was also a strong showing from Smith among the elite men’s field. He finished the swim in 18:18, clocked 56:49 on the bike and completed the run in 34:39 for a combined time of 1:51:11.

Miguel Hidalgo claimed victory in front of a delighted home crowd in a winning time of 1:48:01, with Spain’s Antonio Serrat claiming silver ahead of Canadian Charles Paquet, who clinched his first medal at World Cup level.

Nine athletes failed to complete the race from the starting field of 47 competitors.