WOLLONGONG, Australia (AP) — Germany’s Lisa Tertsch fulfilled her considerable potential, breaking away from a star-studded field Sunday to win the elite women’s race at the World Triathlon Championship finals and to become world champion for the first time.

Tertsch was near the head of the field for most of the 1.5 kilometers swim, 40 kilometer cycle and 10 kilometer run, finishing strongly to beat Bianca Seregni of Italy by 14 seconds. Emma Lombardi of France finished third 26 seconds behind Tertsch.

Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand of France and Beth Potter of Britain came into the finals tied atop the world championship points standings with Tertsch in fourth place overall. But Sunday’s win catapulted Tertsch into first place.

The 26-year-old Harvard-educated Tertsch was a membe

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