Reid 'expected to finish higher than sixth'
Ireland’s Aileen Reid admitted to some disappointment after finishing sixth in the women’s triathlon in the inaugural European Games in Baku today.
The 32-year-old had expected better after a stellar season which saw her claim fourth place in the World Triathlon Series race in London late last month.
But, despite completing the final transition from bike to run in fourth place, Reid could make no impression on the runaway leaders headed by eventual winner Nicola Spirig of Switzerland.
Reid said: “I prepared properly for these Games and I was feeling good – I was expecting higher than sixth.
“But I don’t feel sorry about not finishing first because I did my best and I came in the top 10.”
Reid, whose place at next year’s Rio Olympics is already all but secure after her rise in the world rankings coincidentally also to sixth, said she found the windy conditions in the Azeri capital hard.
“It was windy and wavy, but that is part of the race and I enjoyed it,” Reid added. “It was different and it is better to have something different than something normal.”
