MICHELLE Parsons returned from the International Triathlon Union's Elite Long Course Duathlon World Championships with a team gold medal in her bag after finishing an impressive 14th overall in her first Elite World Championships.

Last year she won the age group equivalent of this Championship and her performances since then have gained the Evesham ace selection to the Elite British squad.

Held in Barcis, Italy amidst the Dolomites, temperatures soared on race day to 33 degrees and that, coupled with the undulating run and bike courses, saw only 22 of the starting 29 elite female athletes finish the race.

The first run was over a distance of 16K over a hilly course with Parsons completing the course in one hour eight minutes and 51 seconds to finish 13th overall.

She then set out on to the bike course which was described as the toughest used in the World Championships so far and she completed the 80K circuit in 2.28.46.

Still 13th, Parsons quickly slipped her running shoes back on to complete the final 11K run in the full heat of the day and her final time of 4.36.26 earned her 14th place overall just 17 seconds adrift of GB teammate Sarah Gross.

Along with Annie Emmerson, who finished in third place, the trio who finished claimed the team gold medal for their efforts.

Parsons is now looking forward to her next elite race over the shorter standard distance Duathlon course in the National Championships in Milton Keynes on Sunday, June 12.