Bunbury medallist Bailie back for training

Australian Commonwealth Games hero Ryan Bailie is back in Bunbury as he prepares for a season-ending assault on the Nepean and Noosa triathlons at the end of October.

Bailie ran 10km in a blistering 31min 53secs to finish fifth in the individual triathlon in Glasgow, earning the right to anchor Australia's bronze medal winning team in the mixed relay.

The 24-year-old subsequently finished 16th in the World Triathlon Series grand final in Canada at the end of August, wrapping up ninth overall to ensure he finishes the year ranked among the world’s ten quickest elite triathletes.

"My season has been a lot more consistent than last year," Bailie said.

"In 2013 I had three top ten finishes on the WTS circuit but I finished 17th overall and this year I finished ninth with only two tops tens but a lot more top 20s.

"Last year I sort of bombed out in a few races and was up around the 40s and 50s which is where you definitely don't want to be.

"In terms of progressing forward I couldn’t really ask for more from 2014 — had you said top nine in the world I would have taken it at the start of the year."

Despite returning from the Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal and a top five finish, Bailie graded his performance as nothing more than a pass.

"I was actually a little bit disappointed with my performance in the individual triathlon and in the mixed relay we were under pressure from Triathlon Australia to bring home a medal so third was probably a pass mark," he said.

"I think England with the Brownlees was out of reach in that race but South Africa was a bit of a wild card, I wouldn't have put them in the medals before the event."

Bailie will race twice more in Australia to end the season and is also considering an appearance in the 5km Hot FM Surf to Surf Fun Run on Saturday, October 18 before turning his attention to 2015.

“I’ll get through Nepean and Noosa and then I’ll sit down with my coach and we’ll come up with a plan for next year, ” he said.

"Obviously 2015 will be pretty important, there's a test event in Rio which will have selection implications for the Olympics in 2016.

"I’m sure there will be one automatic spot for the Australian team so that will be a huge target and then I'll also be competing in the World Triathlon Series."

Click here to go mobile with iNFOGO - local everywhere