Erica Hawley produced one of the best performances of her career to finish runner-up in the Americas Triathlon Cup Magog.

Hawley outsprinted Naomi Ruff, of the United States, to claim the silver medal in a photo finish in a time of 1hr 2min 36sec with Ruff given the same time in third. American Joy Gill won the race in 1:02:10.

The Bermudian came out of the 750 metre swim leg in eleventh place after spending just a second under ten minutes in the water but she produced a fantastic bike leg to climb to second after two laps and 20 kilometres of cycling.

Among a leading group of several athletes on the 5k run, Hawley more than held her own to complete the leg in 17:47 cross the line in third.

Hawley felt she was in good shape after testing her running skills in an event just a week earlier.

“Going into the race I felt like I had put some pressure on myself to perform but I think I handled it well,” she said.

“The last couple of months have definitely challenged me and my plans changed multiple times; I had to pivot after getting sick and not racing in Calima.

“But once I decided to race here I felt like I had a set path and this set me up to have focus in training. I knew I was in good running shape as I raced a 5k a week ago and ran 17:14, only five seconds off my best last year at the same race.”

Hawley went into the event with the third-highest World Triathlon ranking in the field and she admits to feeling the pressure of being expected to perform.

“I went into the race ranked third and it definitely felt like I was being watched in the race,” Hawley said.

“I had a fine swim, exiting with the main group but the bike course was challenging, with a hill and some technical parts. I knew the bike was my strongest leg and that I had the ability to break away but I've never really been in that position before.

“Luck was in my favour as [Michelle] Magnani attacked on the hill so I followed her and we managed to break away for around 10km. It was very cool to be in that position and I knew I was strong but the group behind us of about eight girls were committed to catching.

“On lap two, once they caught us, I knew it was now about being smart and it was time to focus on the run. Gill was running super well on the day, and she quickly made her way to the front but I had a battle with Ruff for second until the finish line.

She looked good for second but I managed to sprint for my life and get it in the end. In Miami and Napier I fell flat in the last kilometre or so, so it was great to finish off really strong and get the sprint.“

Hawley does not have long to wait for her next race, with another eventg lined up in Canada in the next few days.

“I am in Canada for another week and I am racing in Montreal next Saturday,” she said.

“The field is definitely stronger in Montreal, but I hope I can have another good result. I know I'm strong and yesterday proved that I can bike really hard, break away and still have the second-fastest run of the day.

“After Montreal, the focus will be on the fall races, and I'm planning on heading over to Europe for World Cup and World Triathlon events.”

Hawley was not the only Bermudian in action in Canada, with Nick Pilgrim contesting the elite men’s race.

Pilgrim was ranked 47th going into the race but exceeded expectations to finish 34th overall after finishing the swim leg in 9:14, the bike leg in 30:32 and the run in 17:23.