Updated: Jodie Swallow 7th in Hyde Park

Jodie Swallow, whose last outing in a Woodford vest was a good run in the National Road Relay in April, performed excellently yesterday in Hyde Park to take 7th place in a world-class field in the 5th leg of the ITU Triathlon World Championship series. Not long after that relay leg, Jodie relocated to a training camp in Switzerland to pursue her 2012 Olympic ambitions. And her London performance suggests that the move is already paying off.

A former junior national swimming champion, she was 8th out of the water in a field of 69. This enabled her to form part of what became a 24-strong lead group in the 40K bike ride. On an 8-lap course she remained watchful towards the back of the group throughout until lap 7 when she confidently moved close to the front. The group had established a 90" lead over a chasing group of around 30 women.

After the second transition, she got into a lead group of about 8 on the 10K run and hung on there until about 5K, at which point the British favourite Helen Jenkins moved away in a group of 4. Jenkins finished 3rd while Jodie and fellow Brit Vicky Holland scrapped it out for 6th and 7th place with Holland winning the duel. Jodie was officially timed at 34:50 for the 10K run, compared to 33:51 by the winner Findlay of Canada.

She is next due to compete this Wednesday in a triathlon at l'Alpe d'Huez, the Alpine peak famous as an hors catégorie climb in the Tour de France.