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Duffy claims title in Bahamas

Top finish: Duffy won the Island House Triathlon in Bahamas

Flora Duffy is $60,000 richer after winning the Island House Triathlon women’s race in the Bahamas on Saturday.

Duffy finished the three-event invitation-only meeting on Highbourne Cay in the Exuma island chain of the Bahamas more than a minute ahead of Katie Zafares, of the United States.

The Bermudian posted an overall time of 2hr 17min 39sec, with Zaferes finishing runner-up in 2:18:53 and Holly Lawrence, of Britain, coming third in 2:20:55.

“Yesssss @IslandHouseTri champion! One of my favourite races of the year. Thanks,” Duffy tweeted yesterday.

Duffy went into the final stage — a traditional sprint over a 750-metres swim, 20-kilometres bike and 5km run — with a 14-second lead over Zafares after two strong performances in the first two events on Friday.

She completed the first event, a time-trial of 7km bike, 2km run and 200 metres swim, with a 32-second lead over Kirstin Kasper, also of the US, while Zaferes was a further six seconds back in third.

The afternoon featured a seven-stage event of a 2km run, 375-metre swim and 10km bike before competitors tackled the courses a second time, finishing with a 1km run. Duffy’s lead was cut to 14 seconds after Zaferes clocked the fastest time of 57:51.

The victory capped off a superb season for the 30-year-old, who has won the ITU Triathlon World Series for a second successive year and the Xterra World Championship for a fourth time in a row.

In the men’s race, Ben Kanute, of the US, claimed a dramatic sprint-finish win over Terenzo Bozzome, of New Zealand, with both triathletes posting identical combined times of 2:05.53. Henri Schoeman, of South Africa, placed third in 2:06:20.

Duffy will make a whirlwind trip to Bermuda to attend the official opening of the Flora Duffy Swimming Facility at her former school Warwick Academy tomorrow.