Media 2007...
Triathlete Magazine Feature
September 2007 Edition -- Sara is on page 82. The four page article profiles the top-5 American men and women heading into the final preparations of the year.
On the men's side -- Fleischmann, Kemper, Potts, Reed, and Shoemaker. On the women's -- the three Sara(h)'s...Groff, Haskins, McLarty, and Bennett and Swail. All ten include an action photo next to a one-paragraph bio.
Westchester Triathlon
The 23rd Annual Jarden Westchester Triathlon in Rye, NY is the last in the series of 2007 Regional Championship races.
Sara McLarty had a great start as usual and made 2nd place for the Elite Women. Visit Sara's Gallery for race photos.
Elite Womens World Championships
HAMBURG, Germany (September 1, 2007) -- Three hundred thousand spectators lined the streets and watched defending champ Emma Snowsill pull out of the second pack at a remarkable speed to outdistance lead runners and earn her place on the awards pedestal. Of the seventy-seven world's top Trialthletes, the hosting country Germany had three finishers in the top ten, and, the United States women finished as follows: Laura Bennett 3rd (01:54:37), Sara Haskins 10th (01:55:27), Sara Groff 16th (01:56:19), Julie Swail 23rd (01:57:26), Sara McLarty 49th (02:00:33). Laura Bennett has earned her place at the Olympics. Read news story at Triathlon.org
As reported on Tricast Live:
01:54:31: The defending world champion Emma Snowsill takes the silver, passing Laura Bennett, who takes bronze, in the last 200 metres.
01:53:27: Vanessa Fernandes from Portugal has just won the 2007 Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships. One of her dreams came true...
01:44:46: Fernandes has stretched her lead over Benett at the 7.5km mark. There is 55 secs between them. Benett followed by Emma Snowsvill and Emma Moffatt from Australia. The next chasing group is the trio of Franzmann, Lisk and Di Marco Messmer.
01:28:09: Fernandes leads at the end of run lap 1 of 4 followed by Laura Benett from USA and Emma Moffatt from AUS
01:19:53: The top 13 women off the bike. Ricarda Lisk from Germany is the first out of the transition followed by Benett, Harrison, Di Marco, Fernandes....
00:26:15: Vanessa Fernandez is in the lead after the first lap (5km). The leading group has 13 athletes with Di Marco Messmer, Luxford, Franzman, Benett, Harrison, Haskins, McLarty, Lisk, Berk, Moffatt, Groff, Rabie. The chase group is lead by Emma Snowsill.
00:18:03: Franzmann is the first out of the transition followed by Luxford, Messmer, Benett, McLarty, Haskins, Berk...
00:17:54: Sarah McLarty is the first out of the water.
Elite Triathletes Set for Hamburg World Championships
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 16, 2007) -- USA Triathlon is pleased to announce the 24 elite athletes who will represent the United States at the 2008 ITU Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, August 31 to September 2.
The team consists of six athletes apiece on the male and female senior elite teams and three each on the male U23 team, female U23 team, male junior team, and female junior team.
"We are really excited to bring some new talent to World Championships this year and our veterans should be in contention for the medals," said Scott Schnitzspahn, Sport Performance Director for USA Triathlon.
The U.S. team will look to rebound from last year's performance when they were shut out of medals in all six races. The team hauled in a total of three medals in 2005.
The races will be split over three days, with the Juniors and U23s taking to the course on Friday, Aug. 31. The elite women will race Saturday, Sept. 1, with the elite men heading to the start line on Sunday, Sept. 2.
Elite Women (Saturday, September 1)
The women will be looking to regain their spot atop the podium after missing out last year for the first time in five years. Since 1989, U.S. women have earned 15 top-three finishes at the World Championships. Three women have earned worlds gold (Karen Smyers in 1990 and 1995, Siri Lindley in 2001, and Sheila Taormina in 2004) in U.S. history.
Three of those recent podium finishes have been by Laura Bennett (N. Palm Beach, FL / Boulder, CO), who is back to compete on her eighth worlds' team. Bennett earned silver in 2003 and back-to-back bronze medals in 2004 and 2005. Her highlight win this year is without a doubt the Des Moines World Cup in June, where she took home a $200,000 paycheck and brand new Hummer H3.
Joining Bennett is an athlete who has had a breakout year in 2007. Julie Swail Ertel (Irvine, CA) has already captured her first elite national title and recently won gold at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Swail, a 2000 Olympian in water polo and former age group overall world champion, is making her third appearance at elite worlds.
Sarah Haskins, the 2006 USAT Elite National Champion, has produced three top-four finishes at world cups this season and captured silver at the Pan Ams. She finished 21st in her first world championship in 2006.
Also making her second worlds' appearance is Sarah Groff (Cooperstown, NY / Boulder, CO), who had her best world cup finish of 5th at Edmonton earlier this year and is the current Aquathlon World Champion.
The rookies on this elite team are 2006 USAT U23 National Champion Sara McLarty (DeLand, FL / Colorado Springs, CO) and Margaret Shapiro (Annandale, VA). McLarty, unquestionably the fastest swimmer in the world of draft-legal racing, will play a key role in helping the U.S. get an early lead. Even though she's a rookie on this team, she brings years of experience on the world stage. She's been a member of two junior worlds teams, two U23 worlds teams, and has participated in world championships for swimming and lifeguarding. Shapiro also has past experience, taking home the overall age group world title in 2005.
The Great Colorado Triathlon
LONGMONT , Colorado (August 12, 2007) --
In the women's event, American national champion Julie Ertel, formally Swail, would claim the gold medal after a successful break away with team mate and eventual silver medalist Sarah Haskins. The two Americans would get away early in the bike with a third American, Sara McLarty, growing their lead to over two and a half minutes at one point.
(Saskatchewan Triathlon Association)
(Sara Groff) The race went off a bit inauspicously, as I narrowly missed the McLarty train and had to swim hard to stay within ten seconds of Sara and Sarah Haskins. Running out of the water, I knew that transition would determine my race and I absolutely sprinted to catch up to the Sara(h)s. Our trio, however, was quickly narrowed down to two when McLarty was slowed by a mechanical problem.
| The Winning Ways of Sarah, Julie, & Sara... | |
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Potts, Swail Capture Pan Ams GoldRIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil ( Jul. 15 2007 ) It was an American sweep of the gold medals as Julie Swail and Andy Potts |
Swail (Irvine, Calif.) won in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 23 seconds. Only a few steps behind was her teammate Sarah Haskins (St. Louis, Mo. / Colorado Springs, Colo.). Lauren Groves of Canada was third. The event doubled as the 2007 ITU Pan American Continental Championships.
It was the second American gold at the Pan Ams for the women since the sport was added in 1995. The women also now have five total medals in Pan Ams competition. Swail competed at the event in 2003, finishing eighth.
With teammate Sara McLarty (DeLand, Fla., / Colorado Springs, Colo.) leading the way, the Americans immediately broke away from the rest of the group, opening a 15 second lead by the end of the 1,500 meter swim course. The American trio would use their strong swim-bike skills to utilize this lead, growing it to over two and a half minutes by the end of the bike.
The sizable chase group contained many of the sport's top runners including Groves, fellow Canadian Kathy Tremblay, Brazilian Mariana Ohata, Adriana Corona of Mexico, Flora Duffy of Bermuda, among others. This group had their sights set on the three leaders and a podium finish. Swail and Haskins did not falter though, and ran together until the last kilometer when the American national champion Swail pulled away, running to the first major international win of her career.
Over the first two laps the chasers would reel in swim-bike specialist McLarty but were unable to narrow the gap to the other two Americans. With one lap to go, Groves would break ahead of the rest of the chasers. With no response from any of the other women, she was free to cruise to the bronze medal.
“Today, we started off the run and we said ‘let’s work together – let’s take turns’, because our ultimate goal was to be up on the podium together,” said Haskins. “And ultimately I don’t think either one of us cared who’s up on top. We just wanted an American up on top of that podium.”
“The crowd here was absolutely spectacular. We first noticed it on the swim,” said Swail. “I notice the crowd a lot particularly on the run. As your energy is being depleted, it’s great to feed off the crowd.”
McLarty finished in 10th place.
McLarty Sacrificed Her Finish for Team
Daytona Beach News Journel, By TIM HIPPS, Correspondent
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (July 18, 2007) -- DeLand's Sara McLarty did much of the dirty work in bringing up the rear of Team USA's 1-2-10 finish in the women's triathlon at XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 on Sunday.
McLarty led the way on the 1.5-kilometer ocean swim off Copacabana Beach with a first-place overall time of 18 minutes, 13 seconds. She alternated leading the Americans' breakaway pack on the 40-kilometer bike ride with teammates Julie Ertel and Sarah Haskins, who struck gold and silver respectively.
McLarty cycled the distance in 1 hour, 20 minutes, 34 seconds, and began the 10-kilometer run in third place. At that point, the American trio had a commanding 2 1/2-minute lead on the nearest competitor among 30 triathletes.
McLarty, who battled illness for much of last week, ran her pace during the steamy road race and finished 10th in the three-sport event with a time of 2:02:07 -- 4:44 behind teammates who already were draped with the Stars & Stripes.
"We came down as a team, and the three of us worked really well together on the swim and the bike," said McLarty, 24, a 2004 graduate of the University of Florida, where she swam for the Gators. "I just headed out on the run at my own pace. I was in third until halfway and I was a little tired, but I worked really hard on the bike so that these girls could win."
McLarty was the USA Triathlon Association's 2005 Rookie of the Year. She finished runner-up at the 2006 U.S. National Triathlon Championships, where she claimed the U-23 national crown. Now her sights are set on Beijing, China, for the 2008 Olympic Games. Her next stop will be the World Championships on Sept. 1 in Hamburg, Germany, where these three Americans will be joined by three others. From there, they will compete Sept. 16 on the 2008 Olympic Course in Beijing -- the first of three U.S. team trials for triathlon.
"The first American to finish there will be our first Olympian," McLarty said. "We should get three. We will get three Americans."
The other two women's triathlon spots on Team USA will be determined in Honolulu in May and Des Moines, Iowa, in June.
"Go Gators," McLarty concluded.
Note: Don't miss Sara's Monday, July 16, 2007 Blog Departing Brazil
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Americans dominate PanAm Games |
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www.triathlon.org (July 15, 2007 )
It is an American sweep of the gold medals today as Julie Ertel, formerly Swail, has just won the Pan American Games triathlon in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 23 seconds. Only a few steps behind was her was team mate Sarah Haskins. Lauren Groves of Canada was third. The event doubled as the 2007 ITU Pan American Continental Championships.
From the starter’s horn the two Americans immediately broke away from the rest of the group, with team mate Sara McLarty, opening a 15 second lead by the end of the 1,500 metre swim course. The American trio would use their strong swim-bike skills to utilize this lead, growing it to over two and a half minutes by the end of the bike.
Over the first two laps the chasers would reel in swim-bike specialist McLarty but were unable to narrow the gap to the other two Americans. With one lap to go, Groves would break ahead of the rest of the chasers. With no response from any of the other women, she was free to cruise to the bronze medal. Crossing the line in fourth was reining continental champion Tremblay, with young Mexican Ramirez in fifth.
Note: Recovering from the flu, Sara was still able to achieve her goal of helping her team build the swim and bike lead allowing them to bring home the Silver and Gold.
Elite Women Results |
Elite Men Results |
Triathlon at the XV Pan American Games
BRAZIL -- The Triathlon event will start at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, July 15 at the Copacabana Arena. One of the most famous beaches in the world and Rio’s best known postcards, Copacabana will hold the Games’ Beach Volleyball, Triathlon and Aquatic Marathon competitions, keeping with the tradition of staging national and international sports events. For Triathlon, the swimming stage will be held at one end of the beach – Posto 6 – and the Cycling and Racing events will be held between Posto 2 and Posto 6.
For the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007, the maximum number of “triathletes” is 70: Forty men and 30 women. Each country may enter up to six athletes.
In the Pan American Games (also in the Olympic Games), triathlon competitors will have to swim 1.5 km, cycle 40km and run 10km to complete the whole circuit. The winner will be the first to cross the finishing line. The Triathlon athletes will dispute six medals (three for men and three for women). Those athletes classified between 1st and 8th places will receive a Rio 2007 participation diploma.
Triathlons first participated at Pan American Games in 1995. The sport emerged from a relaxed chat among buddies at the San Diego Track Club, in the United States. A question came up: Who would be the best athlete if swimming, cycling and running were combined in one sport event? In 1974 the sport came into existance when athletes started to compete in the three sport disciplines in sequence. At the end of that decade, in the American state of Hawaii, triathlon gained the “Ironmen” version, with longer courses to be completed: Athletes swim 3.8 km; pedal 80 km on a bicycle; and run a 42 km marathon, with no intervals. In 1989 the ITU (International Triathlon Union) was founded, and in 2000 the sport became part of the Olympic program at the Sydney Olympic Games.
Local Triathlete Gears for Pan Am Games
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online (June 30, 2007)
by Steve Master,
Staff Writer
DELAND -- Sara McLarty's steady rise as a world-class triathlete has reached the most significant milestone yet. The DeLand High product and former University of Florida swimming star will represent the United States next month in the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
McLarty, 24, was one of only three women named to the U.S. Triathlon team, joining Sarah Haskins of St. Louis and Julie Swail of Irvine, Calif. The Pan Am Games triathlon is slated for July 15, starting on Copacabana Beach.
"Definitely my biggest accomplishment," McLarty said Thursday in a telephone interview from Colorado Springs, Col. "I've been to world championships in five different sports, so that's kind of old hat and for just for one sport. The Pan Am games have competition in many sports. There's a torch and a parade of nations and an opening ceremony. I'm gonna be in an American outfit, probably wearing a cowboy hat or whatever they do. With all the sports there it will be a new experience, so I'm really excited."
McLarty finished fourth among Americans vying for the three available spots, but her teammates had discussed in advance the possibility of placing her on the team for strategic reasons. She's the world's best triathlon swimmer, which the United States team uses to its advantage. McLarty's teammates draft with her in the swim portion of the event, allowing them to open up significant early leads.
But despite the talk, McLarty arrived home from the final qualifying race in Des Moines, Iowa, June 18 believing she'd fallen just short of making the team. While waiting for her luggage in the airport, she checked her cell phone messages and had two calls from Laura Bennett, the nation's top-ranked triathlete. She was calling to give McLarty her spot on the team.
"Those are some big shoes to fill," McLarty said of Bennett. "She told me she felt like I wanted it more than she did and I was like, 'OK, I think we all want it. She'd been to the Pan Am Games before and she also talked about how after the race in Des Moines, when we knew who qualified, she and Sarah Haskins talked and decided that one of them would pass on their slot so I could go. . . . They felt like the team needed that in order to do well."
McLarty, in only her third year as a professional triathlete, will carry a proverbial head of steam into the Games. She is coming off a career-best sixth-place finish in the Edmonton BG Triathlon World Cup, an effort that catapulted her from sixth to third in the United States rankings. She's also risen to a career-best 24th in the world rankings, a milestone she attributes to slow but steady improvement in her running and a teamwork mentality adopted by the American women.
"I've come to realize that I have my best races when working with someone else," McLarty said. "Fortunately, the other best (triathlon) swimmers in the world are also American. They're in the front of the pack with me in the swim, and we do what we have to do on the bike."
McLarty and her teammates will try and capitalize on that strategy in Rio against an extremely competitive field that includes Brazilian star Mariana Ohata and several strong Canadian runners. The competition will also give McLarty a sample of the type of international competition and atmosphere she'll encounter if she accomplishes her ultimate goal of making the United States team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
She's on the short list of contenders for that team. The three-race qualifying process begins Sept. 16 at a World Cup event being held on the Olympic course in Beijing. The first American finisher in that race earns the first of three Olympic spots on the U.S. Olympic team. The two other positions will be decided in Hawaii in April and Des Moines, Iowa, in June, 2008.
"(Competing in) the Pan Am Games won't help me make the Olympic team," said McLarty, who fell just shy of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic swimming team in 2004. "But it will get me accustomed to the Olympic experience, which will help if I make the team.
Beijing '08 or Bust
By Eliot Dempsey Colorado Daily Sports Editor
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 8:52 PM MDT
For many athletes, the dream of reaching the Olympics is one that is far out of reach. However, for several athletes based out of Colorado Springs, that dream just got much closer to reality.
A team of six American triathletes, including Sarah Haskins, Sara McLarty, Andy Potts and Brian Fleischmann from Colorado Springs, will be representing the United States at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 15.
“I think it is going to be a great experience. It was a goal of mine for along time,” said Haskins, 26. “I started about 3 years ago as a professional, and I have just been progressing each year.” It hasn't been as easy as it sounds for Haskins or any of her teammates. They regularly train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs with coach Cliff English and have worked on a variety of skills during their run to the Pan American Games...
One of the more interesting twists to the story of these athletes is that Laura Bennett, not McLarty, was actually selected for the team. But like any true team player, Bennett gave up her spot to McLarty for the better of the team.
“I feel honored because Laura qualified and gave up her spot so I could go,” said McLarty, 24. “I guess I better go down there and do my thing.”
Haskins was actually willing to let McLarty take her spot as well, but instead will join her in Rio de Janeiro. “Laura and I had talked about it, because one of us was going to give up our spot to Sara because Sara is a key teammate in a race like this. She is a very strong swimmer, and she creates situations where we have a gap in the swim and we can work together on the bike and then come off the bike and have a lead on the run,” said Haskins. “It was great that Laura and I were willing to step up and focus on teamwork, which will ultimately get medals for the U.S. at the Pan Ams and ultimately the Olympic Games.”
For the next two weeks, Haskins and the rest of the members of the U.S. Triathlon Pan Ams team will train in Colorado Springs before traveling to Washington, D.C. on July 10 and then to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 11...
The athletes were selected based on performances at the USA Triathlon Elite National Championship in Honolulu, Hawaii and at the Hy-Vee World Cup in Des Moines, Iowa. The top American athlete at each event earned a spot, with the second two spots going to athletes based on their average performances over the two races.
“This is great international experience for athletes who are potential Olympians,” said USAT Sport Performance Director Scott Schnitzspahn. “I'm excited about the team we have. Depending on the tactics we use, any of our athletes can win....”
Julie Swail, who earned her first national title in Honolulu in May, has been running well and will look to work with Haskins and McLarty, who use a strong swim leg to regularly get the American athletes in the lead pack on the bike. The biggest competition for the team will come from Canada and Brazil.
“Looking at the competition, the way we can get an American on the podium is to break away on the swim, work it on the bike and then have a fast runner go and do her thing,” said McLarty. “For us, I think we would feel that we accomplished our goal if we bring home the gold medal.”
American Team Set for Pan Am Games
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ( Jun. 26 2007 )
A team of six American triathletes will be competing for their country after earning the right to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 15. The athletes were selected based on performances at the USA Triathlon Elite National Championship in Honolulu, Hawaii and at the Hy-Vee World Cup in Des Moines, Iowa. The top American athlete at each event earned a spot, with the second two spots going to athletes based on their average performances over the two races. The U.S. athletes will look to build on the five medals earned since triathlon was introduced to the Games in 1995. Hunter Kemper (2003) and Karen Smyers (1995) captured the only U.S. golds at the event.
The 2007 Pan Ams team is as follows:
Women Julie Swail (Irvine, Calif.) – 1st at Honolulu, 3rd at Des Moines; Sarah Haskins (St. Louis, Mo. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 2nd at Honolulu, 2nd at Des Moines; Sara McLarty (Deland, Fla. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 4th at Honolulu, 3rd at Des Moines Men Andy Potts (Princeton, N.J. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 1st at Honolulu, 4th at Des Moines; Jarrod Shoemaker (Sudbury, Mass.) – 3rd at Honolulu, 1st at Des Moines; |
Laura Bennett actually qualified for the team but gave up her spot to McLarty who had earned the first alternate position.
“This is great international experience for athletes who are potential Olympians,” said USAT Sport Performance Director Scott Schnitzspahn. “I’m excited about the team we have. Depending on the tactics we use, any of our athletes can win...”
Swail, who earned her first national title in Honolulu in May, has been running well and will look to work with Haskins and McLarty, who use a strong swim leg to regularly get the American athletes in the lead pack on the bike...
What the Athletes Have to Say...
Sara McLarty
I'm eternally grateful to Laura Bennett (an amazing athlete and person) for my opportunity to compete in Rio at the Pan Am Games. She declined her slot so that I can go represent the USA and help my teammates bring home a gold medal. Earlier this year, I stated that "Making the USA Pan Am Team" was one of my 2007 goals...so I guess I can put a 'check-mark' next to that goal. Now my goal for the actual race in Brazil is to either be on the top of the awards podium or help an American teammate get there...the gold medal not only represents a Pan Am win, but also an Olympic Games slot for our country. (Full Story)
Elite Update:
McLarty's Best World Cup Finish
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada ( Jun. 26 2007 )
Throughout the 2007 season, elite triathlete Sara McLarty will be providing pre- and post-race updates on the events she competes in with other USAT National Team members and elites. Check back periodically to read Sara’s perspective on life as an elite triathlete. This week, Sara offers an exciting look back at her best World Cup finish ever -- sixth place in Edmonton.
Edmonton World Cup, June 24, 2007, 1:30 pm Race Start
Most of my weekend for the Edmonton World Cup Triathlon was spent in the Denver Airport. That’s where I am now…and that’s where I spent an extra four hours on Friday when I should have been swimming, running and attending the pre-race meeting in Canada! I thought I had planned everything perfectly. After traveling so much this month, I took a chance by flying on Friday and scheduled my arrival in Edmonton a few hours before the pre-race meeting. I flew from COS to Denver where my one hour layover turned into a four hour mechanical problem with the aircraft... (Read More)
2007 Edmonton BG Triathlon World Cup
EDMONTON, Canada ( June 24, 2007 )
In the last race to ever be held in the capital city, Emma Moffatt of Australia has just won the 2007 Edmonton BG Triathlon World Cup in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 52 seconds for the first world cup win of her career. Moffatt was able to out-sprint local favourite and Junior champion Kirsten Sweetland of Canada in the final metres to claim the gold medal by only one second. Another Aussie, Annabel Luxford rounded out the podium a further 17 seconds back.
After threatening skies all morning, the sun came out for the start of the Women’s 1,500 metre swim. As seen in the last three world cups, a group of three Americans led by Sara McLarty, pulled ahead early in the swim and quickly made a 90-second gap between themselves and a large chase group. Fortunate enough to make that front group was Moffat, Sweetland, Luxford and Magali Di Marco Messmer.
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The chase group of 19 women was unable to organise themselves and eventually fell to a 2 minute and 29 second deficit by the end of the 40-kilometre, challenging bike course. In this group were a number of contenders including world cup winner Debbie Tanner of New Zealand, Kiyomi Niwata of Japan and the Canadian duo of Lauren Groves and Kathy Tremblay.
Immediately on the 10-kilometre run course Moffatt, Sweetland and Luxford pulled away from the rest of the group and opened a 20-second gap over the other women. Sweetland would push the pace over the 3-lap run eventually dropping the 2005 world cup champion Luxford. Only Moffatt stayed with the young Canadian, tasting her first world cup win after finishing second here last year. Moffatt was the only one of the three without a world cup win to her name. Fifty metres from the finish, Moffatt put her head down and opened a small gap on the Canadian. The gap would not be closed and Moffatt broke the tape first in the dramatic finish.
American Sarah Groff, who broke her elbow in last weekend’s Des Moines world cup, and Sara McLarty crossed the line in fifth and sixth place respectively. Personal best finishes for both athletes.
The Edmonton world cup concludes the North American leg of the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup series. After six world cups in eight weeks, action resumes on July 22nd in the skiing-mecca, Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Tricast Live 2007 Edmonton World Cup
EDMONTON, Canada ( Jun. 24 2007 )
02:00:00: Sara McLarty is sixth.
01:58:00: Fifth place is Sarah Groff
01:59:00: Fourth is Magali di Marco Messmer
01:58:11: And third place goes to Annabell Luxford
01:57:00: Emma Moffatt wins by 1 second over Kirsten Sweetland.
01:09:00: McLarty has won the 2nd bike prime.
01:09:00: Mclarty has pulled ahead by about 30m, as they start the bell lap.
01:00:00: Leading: Oeinck, Groff, Moffatt, Sweetland, McLarty, Di marco, Luxford.
00:19:31: First on the bike is Mclarty
00:18:29: Mclarty is now out of the water, followed closely by Groff.
00:14:15: Leaders, McLarty and Groff, about 10-25 metres ahead of 1st chase pack
Final Edmonton World Cup
EDMONTON, Canada ( Jun. 22 2007 ) One week after competing in the world’s richest triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa last week, American triathletes travel north to Alberta, Canada for the eighth stop of the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup series. This year’s ITU stop in Edmonton will not only be the last for the city that has played host since 2002, but will also signal the end of the North American leg of the World Cup season. Next month, the focus shifts to Europe with stops in England and Austria.
The Americans have performed well in Edmonton in the past, sweeping the men’s podium in 2005 and placing two on the podium last year. Matt Reed and Jarrod Shoemaker could duplicate the feat again this year. Shoemaker, the 2005 Under23 World Champion, was the top American man last week in Des Moines. His eighth place finish moved him up to number 26 in the world from 42. Reed comes into Edmonton as the highest ranked American in the field and looks to continue his success on Canadian soil. He is coming off a bronze medal performance in Vancouver two weeks ago and won bronze here on this course in 2005. Mark Fretta, Brian Fleischmann, Joe Umphenour and Timothy O’Donnell will also take the start line in Edmonton vying for the US$100,000 purse prize and Olympic qualifying points that are at stake.
In the women’s field, Olympian Joanna Zeiger will be looking to rebound after failing to finish the tough Des Moines course last week. Edmonton has been kind to Zeiger in the past; she was a bronze medalist at the World Championships here in 2001. Former NCAA All-American swimmer Sara McLarty comes into the race as the top American in the field and will almost certainly lead the women after the swim portion. Reigning U.S. National champion Julie Swail will also carry American hopes in the women’s event.
Elite Update: McLarty's Hy-Vee Highlights
DES MOINES, Iowa ( Jun. 21 2007 ) Call it whatever you want…Hy-Vee/Des Moines/Iowa/BG/World Cup/Triathlon…the race on Sunday was a huge SUCCESS!! It was so cool to have a World Cup back on American soil, especially since the USA is the birthplace of this sport. I was honored to be a participant in the race!
It sure wasn’t the easiest race ever held…with scorching 95 degree heat, warm lake water, 100% humidity, and 25mph winds…no one was walking away with an easy win. That’s why Laura Bennett’s race win is one of the most amazing performances I have ever witnessed. She was the lone American on the awards podium at the end of the day...
Read Elite Updates at usatriathlon.org
2007 Des Moines BG Triathlon World Cup
USATriathlon.org (June 19, 2007 ) A 1:30 pm start time met the 42 Elite women with 34 degree Celsius temperatures and 54% humidity under clear skies. By the end of the day’s racing only 26 women crossed the finish line, many succumbing to the hot and treacherous conditions.
...lead group of eight women contained many of the top cyclists in the sport such as; Bennett, Luxford, Jessica Harrison of France, Kirsten Sweetland of Canada and another four Americans, Sarah Haskins, Sara McLarty, Julie Swail and Joanna Zeiger. This group worked flawlessly over the 6-lap, hilly and windy bike course building an insurmountable lead over many of the sports top contenders.
2007 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Cup, Vancouver
USATriathlon.org (June 10, 2007 ) After the opening 1,500 metre swim the American duo of Sarah Haskins and Sara McLarty emerged first and headed out on the 8-lap 40-kilometre bike course. The two worked well together early into the bike to open a 30 second gap on the chase group of 16.
The two young women continued to put time into the chase group of top contenders including; Warriner, Densham, Joelle Franzmann of Germany, Lauren Groves of Canada and Elizabeth May of Luxembourg. At the end of the 8-lap bike, Haskins and McLarty were 97 seconds ahead of the Warriner and the others.
Out on the run, the determined Warriner lopped off 30 seconds of Haskin’s lead over the first of three laps. It was a steady process from there as Warriner first reeled in McLarty and then set her sights on Haskins and her fourth world cup victory of her career. The slowing Haskins hung on to second place, however, with a quickly approaching Densham nipping at her heels.
TRIATHLON: Potts, Swail Capture Elite National Titles
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- On the women’s side, 21 athletes started, but it didn’t take long for the race to narrow to five competitors. Swail, Haskins, Laura Bennett (N. Palm Beach, Fla. / Boulder, Colo.), Sara McLarty (Colorado Springs, Colo. / DeLand, Fla.), and Sarah Groff (Boulder, Colo.) exited the water as a group, worked together on the bike and entered T2 within seconds of one another. But it was the run where Swail, Haskins, and Bennett began to take control. The three raced together throughout the majority of the 10k course, before Bennett fell off the pace and Swail and Haskins approached the final mile neck and neck. It was Swail, however, who was able to use a surge to separate herself from the defending champion Haskins and eased into the win in a time of 1:52:33.
Haskins finished in 1:52:54, with Bennett finishing third in 1:53:12. McLarty and Groff grabbed fourth and fifth, respectively. (Jason Mucher - USA Triathlon)
Elites to Kick off 2007 Haul to Great Wall Series in Honolulu
USATriathlon.org ( May 3, 2007 ) For the third-straight year, The Honolulu Triathlon will serve as the opening event for the USA Triathlon Haul to the Great Wall Series...
Rising American star Sarah Haskins (St. Louis, Mo. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) will look to defend her 2006 title, but a deep group of women will challenge her, including 2006 USAT Female Triathlete of the Year Laura Bennett (N. Palm Beach, Fla. / Boulder, Colo.), 2006 U23 National Champion Sara McLarty (DeLand, Fla. / Colorado Springs, Colo.), 2006 USAT Non-ITU Female Triathlete of the Year Becky Lavelle (Minnetonka, Minn. / Los Gatos, Calif.), and Julie Swail (Irvine, Calif.).
About the Haul to the Great Wall Series
Now in its third year, the Haul to the Great Wall Series allows triathletes and spectators to get their first look at who might be competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Each race is sanctioned by USAT. The ITU world rankings system is used as part of the qualification process for the Olympic Games.
The 2007 series includes five great race destinations with more than $800,000 in prize money up for grabs. Following Honolulu, the series moves on to Des Moines, Iowa and the Hy-Vee Triathlon on June 17. This race alone will feature a prize purse of $700,000 and will serve as the only ITU World Cup on U.S. soil in 2007. The series continues with the Musselman Triathlon in Geneva, N.Y. on July 14, the Great Colorado Triathlon (USAT U23, Junior & Youth Elite Nationals) in Longmont, Colo. on August 12, and the Treasure Island Triathlon (Series Championship) in San Francisco, Calif. on November 10.
Ishigaki World Cup
USATriathlon.org -- ISHIGAKI, Japan ( Apr. 16 2007 ) On a tough day of unpredictable weather conditions...
On the women’s side, Sarah Groff was the highest American finishing in 29th place. Amanda Stevens and Rebeccah Wassner also finished inside the top 40 which earns them precious Olympic qualifying points. Former NCAA All-American swimmer Sara McLarty was first after the swim but she fell behind in the bike leg and failed to finish the race (read Sara's experiences in her own words).
Triathlon.org -- Kiwi Tanner wins in Ishigaki (April 16, 2006 ) The clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped to 18 degrees Celsius as the Elite women took the start line. Pre race favourite, Annabel Luxford (AUS), pulled out early in the race due to a sore foot she injured recently in training. This left the race wide open for New Zealander Debbie Tanner to claim the first podium of her young career in a sprint finish with veteran Michelle Dillon (GBR). Last year’s winner Samantha Warriner (NZL) finished third only seconds behind...
The entire swim was led by American Sara McLarty, who finished fourth in the 2005 World Open-Water Swimming Championships, as she dominated the field building a 45 second lead by the 750 metre mark taking the swim prime. By the end of the swim she posted a time 1 minute and 20 seconds faster then the next woman and 20 seconds faster then the top man.
McLarty took off quickly on the bike maintaining her lead over the second pack which contained Luxford, Warriner, Tanner, Kiyomi Niwata (JPN) and Lauren Groves (CAN). She was eventually caught on the third lap after taking the second prime of the day.
Wellington ITU Triathlon Oceania Cup
Triathlon.org -- (March 31, 2007 ) In windy conditions in Wellington today Bevan Docherty and Samantha Warriner have once again shown their class, taking out the National Standard Distance Elite Triathlon Championships.
The race was also an International Triathlon Union Continental Cup race, seeing some international competitors on the start line although none were eligible for the New Zealand Championships..
In the women’s race Samantha Warriner showed an amazing turnaround from a disappointing 27th finish at Mooloolaba...
Warriner was almost 45 seconds down on the lead group early in the bike leg but at no time did she panic and took the lead not long into the run. “The wind made the bike treacherous and at times it was all I could do to hang on, especially around some of the tight turns. But once we closed the gap towards the end of the bike I felt like it was my day. I lead at the first run turnaround and then concentrated on a gradual increase in pace and the lead. I felt really strong.”
Warriner was a comfortable winner from Americans Sara McLarty and Jasmine Oeinck, with kiwis Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels rounding out the top five.
Audio Interview
Channel: EndurancePlanet.com Interview (March 26, 2007) -- Presented by: The Nation’s Triathlon Enter Sara McLarty in a triathlon and the question isn’t whether she will be in the lead, it’s whether she will maintain her lead the entire way. Endurance Planet talks with the ‘08 Olympic hopeful and All-American swimmer who consistently leaves the competition in her wake.
Geelong OCA Triathlon Oceania Championships
Triathlon.org -- (March 3, 2007) In the women’s race Sara McLarty from the US powered through the swim to lead into and out of transition, ahead of Annabel Luxford from Australia. New Zealanders Andrea Hewitt and Nick Samuels followed just ahead of Liz Blatchford to form a group of 3 in pursuit of McLarty and Luxford. By lap 3 the lead group of five merged to protect their claim for the win.
The chase group of 9 including Australian’s Erin Densham and Felicity Abram, together with Debbie Tanner from New Zealand, followed 1:30 behind the leaders.
Leading by almost two minutes the front pack including McLarty, Luxford, Hewitt and Blatchford hit the run leg with Luxford taking lead in the early stages, with a two minute lead.
Erin Densham from Australia was the first of the chase runners to put in the challenge pegging back 15 to 20 seconds each lap with Debbie Tanner from New Zealand just as keen to produce a podium finish.
