Irving Perez won the men's elite race at the Americas Triathlon Championships ©Getty Images

Irving Perez triumphed at the Americas Triathlon Championships in a remarkable sprint finish with Canada's Charles Paquet in the elite men's race, while American Gina Sereno claimed her first win of the season in the elite women's event.

Mexico's Perez crossed the line in St. George in Utah after 1 hour 52min 2sec to pip Paquet to the finish in Utah.

The world number 30 has now won two races back-to-back after he took victory in Bolivian capital La Paz last week.

Clocking in at 1:52:07, it was Paquet's fifth consecutive top-10 finish at a World Triathlon event, although the 24-year-old is still searching for his first win since July 2019.

The United States' Brent Demarest followed 37 seconds later to secure the bronze medal.

Another close result occurred in the elite women's contest as Sereno secured gold after 2:06:51 of racing.

It was the first World Triathlon-certified win of the 26-year-old's career after Sereno surpassed her previous best of sixth place in California in July.

Dominika Jamnicky was one of two Canadian silver medallists in St. George ©Getty Images
Dominika Jamnicky was one of two Canadian silver medallists in St. George ©Getty Images

Dominika Jamnicky won Canada's second silver of the day with a strong performance to finish in 2:06:57.

Cecilia Sayuri Ramirez Alavez of Mexico pulled off one of the quickest swims of the race before dropping into third place, crossing the line in 2:07:07 finish.

In the men's under-23 race, Chile's Diego Moya won gold in 1:53:01 after missing out on the elite men's podium by coming fourth.

He was followed by US duo Chase McQueen and Austin Hindman in that order.

Ramirez Alavez won the women's under-23 race.

The Mexican finished more than two minutes ahead of Costa Rican Raquel Solis Guerrero, while American Liberty Ricca made up the podium.