Brownlee wins again to claim overall triathlon World Series title

GREAT Britain's Alistair Brownlee produced a storming sprint finish to win the Dextro Energy World Championship series Grand Final - and claim the 2009 overall title on Australia's Gold Coast.

VICTORY: After winning five of the nine events, Britain's Alistair Brownlee claimed the triathlon World Series title in style

It was another commanding performance by the 21-year old former world junior and under-23 triathlon champion.

It was his fifth win in the nine-stop series while nearest overall rival, Spain's Javier Gomez, was second, six seconds behind and Olympic champion Jan Frodeno claimed third.

Brownlee's winning time was one hour, 44 minutes and 51 seconds while British team-mates Will Clarke and Tim Don were 11th and 16th respectively.

"The final leg nearly killed me," admitted Brownlee, who needed a top-five finish to be assured the overall title.

 “Gomez kicked and kicked and I just held on to the last lap and went for it.

"Javier beat me at the Euros so that’s one blotch on the year, but there’s no one happier than me right now.

"If someone had told me at the start of the year I would have won five races I would have told them to get lost. I can’t explain my emotions, I’m amazed so I’m just going to take some time off."

CHAMPION: Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee claims the world title, with Spain's Javier Gomez (left) and Germany's Jan Frodeno (right) finishing second and third in Australia (British Triathlon)

Brownlee’s victory is Great Britain’s eighth in the elite men’s event in the last 20 years and follows Hollie Avil’s success in the women’s under-23 race yesterday.

“It’s amazing. It’s a brilliant time for us and just shows how well this sport is going,” he added,

“I really wanted to win the world title and I wasn’t going to do anything to make sure that didn’t happen, but when I saw the chance to win then I knew I wasn’t going to lay down.

“I was going to give it everything and I was delighted with how the race went.”

STRONG FINISH: Alistair Brownlee produced a determined sprint finish to win his fifth World Series race - claiming the overall 2009 world title (British Triathlon)

Australia's Emma Moffatt is favourite to win the women's overall title ahead of Sunday's race and holds a 120 point lead over Sweden's Lisa Norden.

But Switzerland's Daniela Ryf, American Sarah Haskings, Japan's Juri Ide and British world champion Helen Jenkins could also snatch the title if the right formula of results go their way.