As the deadline for Olympic qualification draws ever closer, Bermudian triathlete Erica Hawley is on her way to Italy.

After finishing thirteenth at World Triathlon Cup Samarkand in Uzbekistan on Saturday, Hawley, who heading into the event was 49th in the Olympic qualification simulation with 55 women guaranteed to get a place on the start line, switches continents and will line up alongside Dame Flora Duffy, in Cagliari, on May 25.

Wanting a good performance in Uzbekistan to solidify her position, Hawley completed the 1,500 metres swim leg in 20min 27sec, the 37.5 kilometres bike leg in 57:03 and the 10K run in 37:04 which, combined with her transition times, meant she stooped the clock at 1:55:37.

That was just under five minutes behind winner Lena Meissner, of Germany, whose time of 1:52:47 was enough to bring her home in front of Jessica Fullager, from Britain, and Sweden’s Tilda Mansson.

Bermuda was doubly represented in Uzbekistan as Tyler Smith was in action in the elite men’s field.

In an attritional race in which 12 of the 52 starters failed to finish, Smith came home in 26th place after finishing the swim in 18:29, the bike in 52:26 and the run in 33:50 for a total time of 1:45:47.

That was about four minutes off the Briton Connor Bentley’s winning time, with Yannis Seguin, of France, finishing second, and Germany’s Jonas Schomberg third