Tyler Smith outran his race number by some margin to finish thirteenth in the World Triathlon Cup San Pedro de La Paz on Sunday.

With race numbers given out according to official rankings, Smith was rated 35th of the 70 starters taking to the water in the Laguna Chica Resort, which lies between the Biobío River and the Pacific Ocean in the south of Chile.

But he outperformed World Triathlon’s expectations by finishing the 1.5 kilometre swim, the 40km bike ride and the 10km run in 1hr 46min 44sec and claiming thirteenth position.

The race was won by American Morgan Pearson, who completed the course in 1:45:03, with Louis Vitiello, from France, runner-up in 1:45:36 and Hungary’s Marten Kropko completing the podium in 1:45:39.

Smith, who is competing for points to ensure qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, had work to do after the swim, exiting the water in 37th position but a sustained effort on the bike had him fighting for a top-20 position heading into the run.

The Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby champion again showed his class in the final discipline recording the sixth-fastest time in the field of 30:45 to climb into thirteenth position and pick up some valuable Olympic points.

According to World Triathlon’s official Olympic ranking system, winning a World Triathlon Cup is worth 500 points with every subsequent place worth 7.5 per cent less than the one above.

On that basis Smith earns 310 points for his performance and he will remain in Chile for another week to compete in the World Triathlon Cup Iquique on Sunday.