Megan earns Super result in Durham

The deciding race in the series comprised a 400m open swim, 10.5k bike leg and a 3k run.

The Cubbington athlete, in her first season at youth level, exited the water in second and was still in a leading group of five as they entered transition following the bike discipline.

The group was quickly whittled down to four leaving transition and after 800m, it was between McDonald, Kate Curran and Phillipa Chambers for gold.

Going into the uphill finish it was anybody’s race, but Curran eked out a valuable few strides, leaving McDonald to settle for the runners-up spot.

Curran’s victory also earned her the overall series prize, while McDonald’s second place helped push West Midlands into sixth place in the team competition.