JOHANNESBURG - Henri Schoeman sent out a strong signal he should be considered a serious medal prospect at the 2018 Commonwealth Games after winning his second World Triathlon Series (WTS) title in Abu Dhabi.
The Olympic bronze medallist was in a class of his own in the sprint event as he won both the swim and the cycle legs to claim an impressive victory.
Schoeman became only the second male triathlete after two-time Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee to win both the swimming and cycling events and go on to win a WTS race.
It was an impressive display considering the wet conditions making it difficult on the motor-racing course.
The South African beat defending series champion Mario Mola of Spain in a mad dash on the 5-kilometre run leg.
The Spaniard was flying on the run clocking 14.27 to the 14.40 by Schoeman but it was not enough to catch the South African.
Schoeman led out of the water with a time of 8:56 with Olympic silver medalist Jonny Brownlee and Richard Varga short on his heels.
But the South African kept his best for the bike leg where he settled among the lead bunch.
He managed a small breakaway with Justus Nieschlag after the second lap but decided to put the pedal to the metal with 10 kilometres to secure a 14 second lead over the chasing pack.
Schoeman held onto his lead to make it three out of three in the 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km event in a time 57:03 with Mola following in 57:09 while Frenchman Vincent Luis bagged bronze in 57:25.
Fellow South African Richard Murray, who won the Discovery Triathlon World Cup in Cape Town last month managed to get a top-10 finish.
Murray finished 10th with a time of 57.59 just three seconds behind Jonny Brownlee, who will be among the top contenders at the Commonwealth Games.