LAUNCESTON triathlete Jake Birtwhistle again confirmed his rising star status in the sport by taking out the elite men's race at the 2015 Devonport Triathlon today.
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The 20-year-old, now based in Woolongong under coach Jamie Turner, beat a star-studded field which included London Olympians Courtney Atkinson and Brendan Sexton.
Birtwhistle maintained his spot in the leading bunch throughout the 1500-metre swim, 40km bike and 10km running legs - sprinting to the line over the final kilometre ahead of Canberra's Declan Wilson with New Zealander Ryan Sissons and West Australian Kenji Nener in a photo finish for third.
The world junior duathlon and junior world championship silver medallist is now competing in senior ranks and finished seventh in the Devonport Triathlon last year.
The victory sees Birtwhistle claim the Oceania and Australian elite and under-23 titles.
West Australian Jaz Hedgeland won the elite women's titles.