Gwen Jorgensen returns to World Cup podium with silver medal in Huatulco

HUATULCO, Mexico — Gwen Jorgensen (Boulder, Colo.) returned to the World Triathlon Cup podium for the first time in seven years by earning silver at the 2023 World Triathlon Cup Huatulco on Saturday, June 17. 
Showcasing her running fitness despite the infamous Huatulco heat, Jorgensen crossed the sprint-distance line in one hour, one minute and four seconds. The second-place finish secured her the first World Cup medal since she won in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 2016 before she stepped away from the sport to pursue a professional running career.  

“I was just trying to hold on to everything I could. I have had a really rough week actually, I have been sick, all I have eaten in the last five days is rice, I graduated up to bananas just yesterday. I am just really proud that I was able to come out here and finish,” Jorgensen said of her performance.  

She added, “I know I am fit and Cagliari was a race that mentally I just really choked, so to be able to come out here and perform at a level where I know I can, is something I am really happy with. The bike today was all about trying to maintain position. I had a horrible second transition, I dropped my glasses and I didn’t want to get a penalty so I went back to grab them and you know I have had a history of performing poorly in heat and I think I probably took it conservative the first lap, but I am just happy to come away with a podium. I am one step short of what I wanted, but I gave it my all today.” 
The silver came just 33 seconds behind Mexico’s own Anaji Alvarez Corral, who claimed a home soil victory with a time of 1:00:31. Mercedes Romero Orozco (MEX) joined her teammate on the podium, finishing third with a time of 1:01:11.  
The swift course in Huatulco saw the majority of the women’s field remain together through the swim and bike. Jorgensen, along with USA’s Katie Zaferes (Cary, N.C.) and Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.) positioned themselves near the front of the pack heading into the run, where Jorgensen ultimately found her stride to finish second overall.  

With a time of 1:01:48, Sereno crossed the line 10th, earning her second top-10 World Cup finish of her career. Zaferes finished 13th (1:02:00). 
In the men’s race, Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.) and Chase McQueen (Columbus, Ind) had the top finishes for the U.S., with Smith clocking 55:42 to cross the line 24th. McQueen was 26th with a time of 55:49.  

2023 World Triathlon Cup Huatulco
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

Elite Women’s Podium - Complete Results
1. Anahi Alvarez Corral (MEX), 1:00:31
2. Gwen Jorgensen (Boulder, Colo.), 1:01:04
3. Mercedes Romero Orozco (MEX), 1:01:11
U.S. Women Finishers  
10. Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.), 1:01:48
13. Katie Zaferes (Cary, N.C.), 1:02:00
46. Michelle Stratton (Naperville, Ill.), 1:06:55
53. Liberty Ricca (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:09:56
Elite Men’s Podium - Complete Results
1. David Castro Fajardo (ESP), 54:13
2. Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN), 54:14
3. Aram Michell Penaflor Moysen (MEX), 54:17
U.S. Men Finishers 
24. Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.), 55:42
26. Chase McQueen (Columbus, Ind.), 55:49
30. Brent Demarest (Charleston, N.C.), 56:04
52. Ka’eo Kruse (Kauai, Hawaii), 1:00:17