Dussault Earns Bronze at Winter Tri Worlds

First Medal for U.S. at the Event

USA Triathlon

February 15, 2009 (Gaishorn, Austria) – Rebecca Dussault of Gunnison earned an individual bronze and guided the United States to a team silver at the ITU Elite Winter Triathlon World Championships in Gaishorn, Austria, February 14-15. They were the first medals ever for the U.S. at the Winter Triathlon World Championships.

Dussault, who captured the USAT Winter Triathlon national title last month, finished the 7.5k run, 12.5k bike, and 9.9k ski in 1:35:30, just over a minute back of second place finisher Hanne Tronnes of Norway and three minutes off the pace of gold medalist Carina Wasle of Austria.

American Emma Garrard finished in ninth in 1:42:04.

In the men’s elite race, Brian Smith was the top U.S. finisher in 12th place (1:23:51). Mike Kloser of Vail finished 15th in 1:25:55, and Carl Decker finished 22nd in 1:30:44.

Christian Kloser of Vail was the only U.S. junior to race, finishing 17th in the Junior Championship with a time of 1:05:45.

The U.S. women grabbed silver in the Team Relay on Sunday, while the men finished sixth in their race.