World Duathlon Championships: Britain's Emma Pallant wins gold

Emma Pallant is coached by former world duathlon champion Michelle Dillon

Britain's Emma Pallant has won an elite women's gold medal at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Australia.

The 26-year-old finished 30 seconds ahead of Japan's Ai Ueda in second place, while defending champion Sandra Levenez, of France, was third.

Mark Buckingham, 30, took bronze in the men's event, behind Spain's Emilio Martin and France's Benoit Nicolas.

GB's Ben Dijkstra, 16, won the junior men's race to secure his first world title in the run-bike-run discipline.

Pallant wrote on Twitter: "Thank you for all the amazing support! World Champion sounds pretty sweet, thank you."

Buckingham added: "Third. Odd race, mega on the first run, got attacked the whole bike, cramped off the bike. Thanks for the support. Season done."