WTS Edmonton
The U.S. women raced to their third podium sweep in history and first of the 2016 season in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Sunday. Summer Cook (Thornton, Colo.) won her first WTS title with a time of 56:49 while 2016 U.S. Olympians Sarah True (Hanover, N.H.) and Katie Zaferes (Hampstead, Md.) finished second (56:52) and third (56:56), respectively.
Kirsten Kasper (North Andover, Mass.) also finished in the top 10, picking up a sixth-place finish with a time of 57:19 as Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, fourth, and Great Britain’s Vicky Holland, fifth, separating her from her fellow countrywomen.
With the 2016 ITU World Champion set to be crowned on Sept. 17 in Cozumel, Mexico, Olympic champion and two-time defending world champion Gwen Jorgensen is less than 200 points behind Duffy, and 6 U.S. women are ranked in the top 20 in the world.
Congrats @Sums01 on your FIRST WTS win! Amazing day for @usatriathlon at #WTSEdmonton with a clean sweep, @sgroffy in 2nd, @KZaferes6 3rd.
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) September 4, 2016
Really happy to be on the #WTSEdmonton podium w/ @Sums01 & @KZaferes6. I wasn't sure if my body would let me race so expectations exceeded!
— Sarah True (@sgroffy) September 4, 2016
Excited to move up in the WTS rankings and to lay it on the line in Cozumel. Also sweet to be on my 3rd American sweep podium! #WTSEdmonton
— Katie Zaferes (@KZaferes6) September 5, 2016
On the men’s side, Kevin McDowell (Geneva, Ill.) had his best finish of 2016, crossing the line in 18th. British triathlete and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Jonathan Brownlee claimed the gold.
For full results and more on the race, visit usatriathlon.org.
NCAA Triathlon Central Regional Qualifier
In the first of three opportunities to qualify to the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship, Arizona State took home the team title in its first-ever NCAA collegiate triathlon compeition in Naperville, Illinois. The Sun Devils’ three-member team, consisting of Katie Gorczyca, Charlotte Ahrens and Delaney Bucker, will advance to race for the national title in November.
Gorczyca had the best time of the day and was the only woman to finish under an hour, crossing the finish line in 58:59. Ahrens followed up in second, 1:00:03, while Bucker finished fourth, 1:05:23.
Sun Devils, Gorczyca Finish First as Triathlon Trio Qualifies for National Championship l https://t.co/Ea2kfJBkmX #MakingHistory
— Sun Devil Triathlon (@sundeviltri) September 5, 2016
The final two qualifiers will take place in the coming weeks with the East Regional Qualifier in Greensboro, N.C., on Oct. 2 and the West Regional Qualifier in Berkeley, California, on Oct. 8.
Zofingen ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships
Forty Team USA age-group athletes toed the line in Switzerland this weekend. Two American duathletes were crowned World Champion while six other Americans claimed podium spots. Steve Sloan (Berkeley, Calif.) took the men’s 18-19 title with a time of 7:21:33, Jenna Hay (North Richland Hills, Texas) claimed the gold medal in the women’s 20-24 age group for her time of 10:42:46.
Keith Jackson (Englewood, Colo.) finished in third for the 20-24-year-old men, about 26 seconds back from first, Pamela Ferguson (Houston, Texas) and Melissa Guthrie (Gilbert, Ariz.) paced 2-3 in the women’s 35-39 age group, Rebecca Bradley (Dallas, Texas) nabbed the last podium spot for the 40-44 women, Manuela Knispel (Shorewood, Minn.) claimed the silver for the 45-49 women and James Griffis (The Woodlands, Texas) finished second in the men’s 60-64 age group.
Join us in cheering on the 40 U.S. age-groupers set to compete @ Long Course Du Worlds this weekend! @PM_Zofingen pic.twitter.com/PBei6buP1t
— USA Triathlon (@usatriathlon) September 2, 2016
For full results, visit triathlon.org.
IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship
The best half-IRONMAN triathletes took to the swim-bike-run course in Mooloolaba, Australia, this weekend for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. The highest American finish came from Alicia Kaye (Clermont, Fla.), who completed her race in 4:17:53, a time good enough for eighth place. Great Britain’s Holly Lawrence claimed the gold with 4:09:12.
It's race week for #IM703WC! Get to know the pros on their #roadtosunnycoast
First up, @AliciaKayeTri pic.twitter.com/1woBezrU3s— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) August 29, 2016
8th place at #im703wc !! I am so pleased with my performance. The competition was stacked and 4 of us (5th-8th) finished within 40 seconds of each other! Wonderful day, congratulations to all finishers!!
For full results, visit ironman.com.
Around Social Media
The Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games kick off Wednesday with the Opening Ceremony, and Team USA’s paratriathletes are off to Brazil and ready to race.
Ive got the best coworkers in the world!! Thanks for surprising me with this gift basket on my last day of work before@rio2016 games!
It's time to go to Rio! pic.twitter.com/LXcUWVv0OO
— Chris Hammer (@Chris00Hammer) September 4, 2016
Next stop #Rio2016 for #TeamUSA @LizBaker920 and @RoadRunnerJP. @usatriathlon #PT5triathlon pic.twitter.com/Ezbq9xctu7
— Brian Baker (@BrianJBaker) September 4, 2016
We are off... Police escort and all! Adeus Houston!
awesome 2 have my PT5 @usatriathlon Para peeps come 2 see @TeamMPI @BlindAmbitionSp b4 heading 2 Rio @RoadRunnerJP pic.twitter.com/Pl5St681a6
— Aaron Scheidies (@AaronScheidies) September 5, 2016
It's finally here. Off to Rio w/ the best team in the world. Watery eyes & all. #mommyroad2rio #USA @usparalympics pic.twitter.com/cO7i3oQI9J
— Melissa Stockwell (@MStockwell01) September 5, 2016
We made it!! @usparalympics@usatriathlon #seelthedeal#swimbikeruntrack
