NEWS

Weekend Racing Recap

By Brad Culp | 25 May, 2010

It was a busy weekend for ITU, with races taking place in Mexico, Scotland and Slovakia. Here are all the results from all around the globe. 

Slack, Nicholls win in Strathclyde

Great Britain’s Jacqueline Slack and Ritchie Nicholls won the GE Strathclyde ITU Triathlon European Cup in Scotland, topping strong competition from an international field. In the women’s race, Slack stuck with the main group until the run, when she broke away to win in 2:05:54, exceeding her own expectations.

I was aiming for top five, possibly top three—either would’ve been great so early in the season.
Jacqueline Slack

“I’m amazed, to be honest,” Slack said afterward. “I didn’t expect to come out and win. I was aiming for top five, possibly top three—either would’ve been great so early in the season.”

In the men’s contest Nicholls also took the race on the run, finishing with a 32:39 10K run split to take the win in 1:50:34. Countryman David McNamee finished second, 17 seconds back, with Ireland’s Bryan Keane finishing third and posting the day’s fastest run of 32:32.

Click here for complete results.

Robisch, Jaskolka on top in Senec

Germany’s Rebecca Robisch and Poland’s Marek Jaskolka were victorious at the Senec ITU Triathlon European Cup in Slovakia this weekend, both winning with thrilling sprints to the line. In the women’s race, Robisch exited the swim with a slight gap on the chase pack, but she was unable to hold off the charge of the peloton on the bike. After being caught on the bike, it came down to a final sprint to the line for the win, with Robisch coming out on top of the Netherland’s Maaike Caelers by only one second. Brit Katie Ingram finished eight seconds behind Caelers to finish third.

In the men’s race Jaskolka and Czech Filip Ospaly broke away from the pack on the run and headed toward the finish in a neck-and-neck duel. Jaskolka’s finishing kick proved just a hair better than that of Ospaly, as he broke the tape in 1:50:55 with the Czech finishing less than a second later. Switzerland’s Ruedi Wild finished 30 seconds after Ospaly to grab the final spot on the podium.

Click here for complete results.

Moreno, Jefferson bike and run to Ixtapa wins

Rough water conditions forced race organisers of the Ixtapa ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup to turn the race into a duathlon, with athletes contesting a 3K run, 40K bike and 10K run. The change of plans didn’t seem to bother Brazil’s Carla Moreno, who won the women’s race in dominating fashion, finishing over 40 seconds ahead of her nearest competition. It’s Moreno’s first win of the season after finishing as the runner-up at the Salinas Pan American Cup and the South American Championships in Lima. Vanessa Gianinni finished second to make it first and second for Brazil. Mexico’s Dunia Gomez rounded out the podium.

In the men’s race it was the United States finishing first and second, with Sean Jefferson claiming the top spot. After hanging with the front pack for the first run and the bike portions of the race, Jefferson closed with a day’s best 32:10 10K run to take the win. Countryman Seth Wealing finished 14 seconds back of Jefferson to secure second with Mexico’s Crisanto Grajales finishing third.

Click here for complete results.

Brown, Mendoza take PATCO Junior titles

The PATCO Junior Triathlon Pan American Championship also took place in Ixtapa on Saturday, with Canada’s Joanna Brown and Mexico’s David Mendoza taking top honours. The event was also changed to a duathlon due to dangerous water conditions, with athletes completing a 2K run, 20K bike and 5K run. On the women’s side, Brown was simply too quick on the final run segment, finishing the 5K leg in 16:17 to finish in 57:24. Mexico’s Adriana Barraza finished with the day’s second-best run to finish as the runner-up, 27 seconds behind Brown. Canadian Christine Ridenour rounded out the podium.

The men’s race was also decided on the final run segment, with Mendoza running away from the field with a 15:06 5K split. Canadian Ian Donald finished 11 seconds back to earn second with Mexico’s Juan Jose Lopez taking the final spot on the podium.
Click here for complete results.

Another four events are on tap for next weekend, including the 10th annual World University Games and the African Duathlon Championships. Check back at triathlon.org next weekend for a recap of all the races.