The 27-year-old Islander鈥檚 12th-place finish in the World Cup race in Huatulco pretty much sealed the deal for Rio. The 1.5K swim, 40K bike race and 10K run were contested under hot, sapping conditions. Sweetland was across in two hours, 16 minutes, 41 seconds. Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., was 13th in 2:17:15 and Paula Findlay of Edmonton 18th in 2:20:17, behind winner Jolanda Annen of Switzerland (2:14:06).
The two-year Olympic qualification period ends next Sunday with Sweetland the top Canadian and moving up three spots to be ranked 50th in that process. The top-55 women will advance to the Rio Olympics. That is based on a limit of three per country. The Americans have six women, Germany five and Britain and Australia four each in the top 55, meaning Sweetland鈥檚 rank in actuality goes up to 43rd.
鈥淪o many people have worked so hard to get me here and I was happy to be able to deliver something so we can all feel that sense of accomplishment,鈥� said Sweetland, from Mexico.
鈥淭he real accomplishment would be getting named to the [Olympic] team, which we find out in about a week鈥檚 time.鈥�
Sweetland鈥檚 two-year qualification period has been front-loaded, with many of her points accumulated in some big race results in 2014, before illness caused by a serious bacteria infection laid her low for much of the past year.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure what I was going to get [Sunday in Mexico] because of how inconsistent my year has been,鈥� said Sweetland, a graduate of Stelly鈥檚 Secondary and the 2006 world junior champion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 different than an injury, where you can still stay fit from other sports. I had to take five months completely off exercise, so I wouldn鈥檛 expect my fitness to be on par. I had a mixed March and a good April, so I went into the race with at least a little work behind me. Finishing the race in a solid position in the heat was a pretty proud moment for me, honestly. It took so much to get here. I know it鈥檚 still a long way from where I can be, but as a starting point, I was thrilled.鈥�
Sarah-Anne Brault of Quebec City is 57h in the overall and uncorrected Olympic qualification standings, Findlay 64th, Amelie Kretz of Blainville, Que., 75th, Dominika Jamnicky of Guelph, Ont., 95th, Brown 118th and Alexandra Coates of Calgary 121st.
The final decision on the make-up of the Olympic team, however, is up to the discretion of Victoria-based Triathon sa国际传媒.
Andrew Yorke from Caledon, Ont., solidified his Rio spot on the men鈥檚 side with a seventh-place finish at Huatulco in 1:59:16, with Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., 15th in 1:59:59 and Xavier Grenier-Talavera from Vaudreil, Que., 26th in 2:02:27. Winner Etienne Diemunsch of France was across in 1:58:23.
The results left Yorke 45th overall in the Olympic qualification standings and Jones 54th. There will be 55 men in the Olympic race at Rio.
The last opportunity to gain Olympic qualification points is in the final World Series race Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. Sweetland heads across the Pacific knowing her Olympian dream is within her grasp.
鈥淥ff to Japan now for the final chance,鈥� she said.
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