BENFLEET triathlete Kiera Tippett says she has surpassed her expectations this year after closing her season with a strong showing at the World Triathlon Championships.

The 16-year-old finished 33rd in the 16-19 category in Chicago, the fourth Brit to cross the finish line, in 1h 16m 20s.

Spurred on by her family and coach Perry Agass, Tippett completed the swim (12m 35s), bike (34m 37s) and run (23m 17s) despite suffering with a chest infection which she says was “a major disruption”.

But, despite that, she was pleased with her performance in the hot conditions.

“It wasn’t my best race,” she admitted. “I would have done better if I didn’t have this chest infection but there is nothing I can do about it now so I just have to move past it. Finishing in 33rd was still a good result and I don’t want to lose sight of that.

“I really struggled in the last leg as I had used so much energy in the first two parts of the race. My legs just didn’t want to move but I got there in the end.

“Perry thinks I probably could have got a personal best if I had been at 100 per cent but I can still achieve that in races to come. I’ve still had a really strong season.”

Tippett swam through Lake Michigan, which was 18C on the day of the race, before cycling through the City of Chicago and Grant Park.

And although she admitted she struggled during the final leg – the run – she was still able to outsprint a rival to cross the line.

“I was pleased with the finish as two of the GB team collapsed because of heat exhaustion,” she said. “There were 21 competitors from England in my age group so to finish fourth isn’t bad.”

And Tippett, who is now playing catch up at King John School as she prepares for her AS Levels, says she has her eye on a swift return to the States.

“I still have the holiday blues if I am honest,” she laughed. “It was brilliant out there and it would be great to go back, and maybe study there. There are scholarships available for athletes so who knows what the future holds.”

Tippett has already had a superb season, securing a silver medal at the Aquathlon European Championships in Cologne in July, in the 16-19 age category in her first international event.

And she has already set her sights on next season, and the ETU Sprint Distance Triathlon European Championships, in Portugal, the Duathlon European Championships, in Germany and the Duathlon World Championships, in Spain.

“It has been a really good season for me,” she said. “Considering I only got back into triathlon a year ago and started the season as a beginner, I’m really pleased how far I’ve come. I have a busy winter ahead preparing for the new season and am looking forward to it.”

Tippett thanked her sponsors Pedal Potential, Sovereign play equipment, PAS and Kelly Bullis.