USA Triathlon
April 19, 2010 (Monterrey, Mexico) – USA Triathlon national team member Matt Chrabot placed second to lead a group of six Americans in the top 10 at the ITU Monterrey World Cup Sunday. Chrabot’s podium finish capped a weekend that saw Team USA capture four medals in Mexico.
In addition to Chrabot’s runner-up finish Sunday, Kevin McDowell and Kelly Whitley grabbed first and second, respectively, in Friday’s ITU Triathlon American Youth Olympic Games Qualifier and punched their ticket to the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in the process.
Prior to Sunday’s elite race, McDowell and Whitley grabbed a third medal for the U.S. when they teamed up with Tanelle Berard and Nolan Dickson to lead Team USA to a win over Canada and Mexico in the Youth Olympic Games relay.
Fresh off a ninth-place finish at the ITU Sydney World Championship Series event, Chrabot continued his fast start to 2010 by covering the Olympic-distance course in 1:45:05, just 25 seconds off winner Joao Silva of Portugal. Chrabot came on strong during the run and closed with a 300-meter sprint to grab second.
“Heading into the run I thought I could run everyone down until I saw Silva up front,” Chrabot told ITU after the race. “I knew he’s an excellent duathlete, and a 30-second lead was too much for a guy like that.”
Joining Chrabot in the top five for the Americans were Seth Wealing, who was fourth in 1:45:16, and Project 2016 team member Manny Huerta, who was fifth in 1:45:21. Brian Fleischmann was 18th, Ben Collins took 19th and Cameron Dye (26th), Barrett Brandon (29th) and Jarrod Shoemaker (29th) also placed in the top 30.
Hayley Peirsol was the top women’s finisher for the U.S. in 1:59:02, which was good for sixth. Peirsol jumped out to an early lead on the swim and came out of the water with a 40-second advantage heading out on the bike. She was closely followed by Americans Jenna Shoemaker (9th), Margaret Shapiro (10th) and Mary Beth Ellis (11th), who all finished within a minute of Piersol. Amanda Felder was 23rd, and Amanda Hahn took 25th.