Two Bermuda triathletes returned outstanding results at last week's World Championship 70.3 event in Clearwater, Florida.

Julia Hawley placed 12th in her age group (45-49), clocking five hours and 37 seconds, and had the sixth fastest run.

Paul De Giulio finished 73rd in the 50-54 age group after emerging out of the water in first place.

He came home in 5:42:22.

Craig Alexander and Samantha McGlone were the respective men's and women's champions.

The 70.3 is now one of the most popular triathlons, with athletes racing over half the distance of a full Ironman event – a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and finishing with a 13.1 mile half-marathon.

n Hawley's 12-year-old daughter, Erica, qualified at the South West region cross-country race for the UK schools championships which will be held on December 4.

She attends Millfield Prep school in Somerset.