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USA Triathlon Weekend Notebook: Team USA takes Canada by storm

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by USA Triathlon

Team USA at the Montreal Sprint and Relay World Championships

World Triathlon Sprint and Relay World Championships Montreal
Montreal, Canada

The fastest short-course triathletes in the world were crowned over the weekend as World Triathlon hosted the Sprint and Relay World Champs in Montreal. Elites as well as juniors, U23 and age-group athletes all competed for world titles on the sprint and super sprint courses.

In the elite events, for the second year in a row, the eliminator-style race format captivated audiences.

this style is meant to serve as a super spectator-friendly event as the action is fast and furious with athletes hoping to make a spot in the finals.  The basics of this format is that two groups of elites compete in the qualifier rounds to make it to the top 30. That 30 then compete in a super sprint (300m swim, 7.2k bike, 2k run) to eliminate the bunch to 20, followed by another race to ultimately find the final 10. 

That final 10 then race in one final super sprint competition to earn the overall crown. 

If you are an athlete, this format is exhausting. If you are a spectator, this format is thrilling!

Both Summer Rappaport and Taylor Spivey made it to the final stage in the women's event. 

Rappaport finished 5th overall with a time of 24:42. She was the top finisher for elite Team USA on the weekend.

Spivey then followed right behind only 2 seconds later to finished 6th. She continues her spot at the highest U.S. elite in the World Rankings, sitting at 4th in the Series. 

Following the individual events, both Rappaport and Spivey teamed up along with Kevin McDowell and Seth Rider to compete in the Mixed Relay World Championship. 

The U.S. has long had international success in the Mixed Relay event — winning silver at the 2020 Mixed Relay World Championships, bronze in 2018, silver in 2017 and the world title in 2016. The U.S. elite team also won silver at last summer’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in the Mixed Relay’s Olympic Games debut.

Well that success continued in Montreal as the foursome took home the bronze medal, sharing the podium with France and Great Britain.

Plus for McDowell, who wouldn't be proud stepping up to the podium showcasing that mustache! 




 

In addition to the elite success, USA walked away with a podium in the junior event as well in Montreal. 

Reese Vannerson claimed the bronze medal in the junior world championship race, an accomplishment that was hard to believe for the Texas athlete.

“I don’t believe it. I was 60th on the start list today. Oh my God,” Vannerson exclaimed after crossing the finish line in a time of 52 minutes flat on the course that changed from a traditional sprint-distance triathlon to a duathlon (run-bike-run) format due to poor water conditions in the St. Lawrence River.

Nearly 300 age group Team USA athletes also competed at the World Triathlon Age Group Sprint Championships and for the first-time ever, age-groupers had a chance to compete in the mixed relay event as well to try their luck at earning world titles. 

In the individual sprint events, the U.S. earned eight age-group world titles!

Here is the list of the super stars!

Todd Buckingham (M30-34)
Philip Friedman (M65-69)
Kenneth Fleischhacker (M85-89)
Michelle Stratton (F30-34)
Becky Paige (F50-54)
Juliet Hochman (F55-59)
Cande Olsen (F70-74)
Diane Mohwinkel (F80-84)

In the Team relay events, the U.S. also had a spectacular showing. Bringing home the gold in the 15-19, 30-39, 50-59, 70-79 and 80+ age-group divisions. 

 

IRONMAN 70.3 Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

It was a busy weekend in the IRONMAN community, with races all over the globe. The beautiful resort town of Coeur d'Alene in Idaho offered up a gorgeous swim and a hilly bike course, making it a challenging event for those taking on their first middle-distance 70.3 course!

IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead

Benton Harbor, Mich.

Michigan also hosted a 70.3 IRONMAN, an event that has been going on since 2012.

IRONMAN 70.3 Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant, Canada

Just a few towns over from Montreal, the long distance pros were racing in Mont Tremblant and trying to get qualifying honors for the 70.3 World Championship in October.

Here are the results of the day, with USA taking the silver and bronze spots on the women's podium with Amber Ferreira and Rachel Olson showing up to earn some hardware!

PRO Men

1. Lionel Sanders (CAN) – 3:48:02
2. Tomas Rodriguez Hernandez (MEX) – 3:50:16
3. Jackson Laundry (CAN) – 3:50:46
4. Cody Beals (CAN) – 3:50:56
5. Nicholas Chase (USA) – 3:55:22

PRO Women

1. Tamara Jewett (CAN) – 4:19:30
2. Amber Ferreira (USA) – 4:28:36
3. Rachel Olson (USA) – 4:31:57
4. Sonja Catano (USA) – 4:34:11
5. Pamela-Ann Bachelder St-Pierre (CAN) – 4:35:17


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