RICHMOND, Va. — Marissa Ferrante (Aptos, Calif.) broke the tape in the women’s race at the Richmond CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup on Sunday, battling rainy and challenging conditions en route to her first elite international podium. Erin Edminister (Bentonville, Ark.) joined Ferrante on the podium with a silver medal, while Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.) earned a silver in the men’s race. The race marked the third U.S. stop of the CAMTRI calendar this season.

Ferrante covered the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run in 59 minutes flat. After exiting the water in the top-five and riding with the leaders, Ferrante outran her competition with a 17:36 5k. The only person to run faster was Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.), who dropped a 17:35 5k from the chase pack to finish 17th. 

The gold is Ferrante’s first-ever medal in elite ITU competition, as her previous best finish in a CAMTRI event was fifth. 

Edminister was also among the leaders throughout the race, finishing just 10 seconds behind Ferrante at the finish to claim her eighth career CAMTRI medal with a silver in 59:10. Germany’s Anabel Knoll rounded out the women’s podium, earning bronze in 59:29.

In the men’s race, Canadians Aiden Longcroft-Harris and Charles Paquet led out of the swim, with Smith right on their heels. A large pack of leaders formed on the bike, meaning it was anyone’s game heading onto the 5k run. 

Smith quickly moved his way to the front of the field, running neck and neck with Canada’s Martin Sobey in the thrilling final meters. Sobey ended up with the victory in a photo finish, as both athletes recorded the same official time of 52:38. Smith would take silver, and Canada’s Charles Paquet claimed bronze in 52:45.

Smith’s blistering 15:20 run split was the second-fastest in the field, with only eventual 14th-place finisher Robby Webster (Phoenix, Ariz.) running faster from the chase pack with a 15:12.

The silver marks Smith’s first medal at the senior level in a CAMTRI event, after a junior career that saw him earn three victories on the circuit. 

The CAMTRI season continues with a stop in Ixtapa, Mexico, on May 18.

2019 Richmond CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup
750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run

Elite Women — Complete Results
1. Marissa Ferrante (Aptos, Calif.), 59:00
2. Erin Edminister (Bentonville, Ark.), 59:10
3. Anabel Knoll (GER), 59:29

U.S. Finishers
1. Marissa Ferrante (Aptos, Calif.), 59:00
2. Erin Edminister (Bentonville, Ark.), 59:10
6. Bria Edwards (Boulder, Colo.), 1:00:28
11. Audrey Ernst (South Elgin, Ill.), 1:01:39
14. Ali Brauer (Bedford, N.H.), 1:02:04
17. Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.), 1:03:50
21. Rebecca Naughton (Tempe, Ariz.), 1:04:36
23. Lara Gruden (Tucson, Ariz.), 1:05:05
25. Kira Stanley (Marana, Ariz.), 1:05:54

Elite Men — Complete Results
1. Martin Sobey (CAN), 52:38
2. Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.), 52:38
3. Charles Paquet (CAN), 52:45

U.S. Finishers
2. Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.), 52:38
6. Marc Dubrick (DeKalb, Ill.), 53:16
10. Jack Felix (Hilton Head, S.C.), 53:41
14. Robby Webster (Phoenix, Ariz.), 53:58
19. Matthew Perches (The Woodlands, Texas), 54:26
23. Chris Pietraszkiewicz (San Antonio, Texas), 55:17
24. Wilson Norris (Brentwood, Tenn.), 55:24
26. Nicholas Johnson (West Des Moines, Iowa), 55:52
29. Austin Podhajsky (Parker, Colo.), 56:08
32. Nicholas Sterghos (Fort Collins, Colo.), 56:43
34. Nathan F. Cohen (Ventura, Calif.), 57:01
36.  Ian King (Virginia Beach, Va.), 57:23
37. Adam Brumley (Buckhannon, W.V.), 57:49

About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).