Colorado Springs Women Sweep Miami International Triathlon

ColoradoTriathlete.com
Photos by Robert Murphy

March 14, 1010 (Miami, FL) – Colorado Springs national team athletes Sarah Haskins, Jillian Petersen, and Sarah McClarty swept the top three spots at the early-season Miami International Triathlon today, with Mary Beth Ellis of Thornton close behind in fifth. Haskins picked up the $5,000 first place purse with a time of 1:58:16 in the Olympic distance non-drafting race.

In the men’s race, national team member and Colorado Springs resident Matt Chrabot also kicked off his 2010 season in impressive fashion. Chris Lieto took second, and Matt Reed of Boulder placed third.

Haskins Runs Away from the Field

One week after winning USA Triathlon’s first Elite Development Race, Haskins, a 2008 Olympian, pulled away on the run to claim her second straight victory of 2010. Thanks to a 5:52 pace and a 36:25 10k to close the race, Haskins outdistanced the field of 10 elite women by nearly two minutes. Haskins’ time of 1:58:16 bettered fellow Americans Jillian Petersen, last year’s winner who was second in 2:00:00, and Sara McLarty, who took third in 2:02:13. Nine of the 10 elite women competitors were Americans.

Steady Chrabot Takes Title

Chrabot, who had a strong finish to the 2009 season, picked up where he left off in Miami. He did not post the fastest time in either discipline but used a steady effort to top IRONMAN standout Chris Lieto by just over a minute and a half. Chrabot closed with a 32:37 10k run to pull away from Lieto, who was second in 1:48:00, and hold off defending champion Matt Reed, who was third in 1:48:14. Reed’s 32:06 run was the second-fastest effort of the day. Twenty-two male elites finished the race.

Women

Men