Taylor Spivey Claims Silver, John Reed Adds Top-10 Finish at World Triathlon Championship Series Karlovy Vary

KARLOVY VARY, Czechia – USA TRI National Team athlete Taylor Spivey (Redondo Beach, Calif.) returned to the podium on Sunday, Sept. 12, earning a silver medal at the World Triathlon Championship Series Karlovy Vary in Czechia. Spivey led a strong U.S. showing, with fellow teammate John Reed (Virginia Beach, Va.) delivering the top American men’s finish, placing 10th. 

Karlovy Vary is one of the toughest Olympic-distance races on the WTCS calendar, beginning with a 1.5-kilometer swim in Rolava Lake before the athletes took on a grueling 40.8-kilometer bike course. With steep climbs, fast descents and tight turns through the historic town, the bike course demanded both strength and technical skill. The race concluded with a 10-kilometer run consisting of four laps through Karlovy Vary’s hilly terrain. 

Women’s Race 

Wet and slick morning conditions made for a difficult bike leg, with more than 10 women retiring due to crashes or mechanical issues. 

Despite the challenging conditions, a group of 16 athletes formed at the beginning of the bike leg before the steep climbs and cobbled roads began to break up the field. Spivey, who is known for performing well on hilly courses, and Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) made a decisive move on an ascent, reducing the group to nine athletes and establishing a lead of more than two minutes over the chase pack by the end of the bike.  

Taylor-Brown ultimately claimed the victory in 2:03:05, while Spivey crossed the finish line in 2:03:41 to earn back-to-back silver medals in Karlovy Vary. Lisa Tertsch (GER) rounded out the podium in 2:04:33. 

“I always love this course, and I love being on the podium...it’s bittersweet to not get that win that I really want,” said Spivey, post-race. “But, we worked really well on the bike together, and I think it was an honest race from start to finish, so I’m proud of what I put together.” 

Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.), racing in her second WTCS event, finished 20th in 2:09:40. Erika Ackerlund (Helena, Mont.) placed 27th in 2:11:28. 

The Men’s Race 

John Reed (Virginia Beach, Va.) led the U.S. men, putting together a strong run leg to move into the top 10.  

Chase McQueen (Columbus, Ind.) exited the water in the top five and remained in the lead pack through the bike leg. As five athletes broke away at the front of the first pack, Reed and Alex Yee (GBR) raced in a second chase group that eventually merged with McQueen’s pack on the final lap. 

Reed moved to the front of the chase pack and ran ahead to secure 10th place in a time of 1:52:12. After strong swim and bike legs, McQueen finished 19th overall. 

The men’s race saw improved racing conditions as the roads began to dry, though the field still faced 15 medical and mechanical incidents. 

“[This is] a hard course, I think both mentally and physically with the conditions,” said Reed. “I don’t think it was quite as bad as the women’s race, but I think everybody probably watched the women’s race and was pretty hesitant with how many crashes there were.” 

France’s Dorian Coninx claimed the men’s title in 1:50:50, followed by Great Britain’s Alex Yee in 1:51:00 and Austria’s Tjebbe Kaindl in 1:51:07. 

With the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, fans can directly support USA TRI Elite athletes' journeys through Elevate28, the USA Triathlon Foundation's most ambitious campaign yet. Because USA Triathlon receives no direct government funding, philanthropy fuels the world-class coaching, training environments, sport science, and international competition U.S. athletes rely on to compete and win on home soil. 

To join the movement, visit usatriathlon.org/foundation/elevate28. 

1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run 

Complete Results 

Elite Women 

Top 3 

1. Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR), 2:03:05 

2. Taylor Spivey (USA), 2:03:41 

3. Lisa Tertsch (GER), 2:04:33 

U.S. Finishers 

20. Naomi Ruff, 2:09:40 

27. Erika Ackerlund, 2:11:28 

Elite Men 

Top 3 

1. Dorian Coninx (FRA), 1:50:50 

2. Alex Yee (GBR), 1:51:00 

3. Tjebbe Kaindl (AUT), 1:51:07 

U.S. Finishers 

10. John Reed, 1:52:12 

19. Chase McQueen, 1:53:21 

DNS. Keller Norland 

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WTCS Yokohama | May 16 | Results 

WTCS Alghero | May 30 | Results 

WTCS Quiberon | June 20-21 | Results 

WTCS Hamburg | July 11-12 | Results 

WTCS London | July 25 | Results 

WTCS Weihai | Aug. 29 | Results 

WTCS Karlovy Vary | Sept. 13 

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