Olympian Logs Third Straight Top-10, Moves to Fourth in Series
USA Triathlon
men’s race
June 5, 2010 (Madrid, Spain) – United States Olympian Sarah Haskins placed fifth to record her third straight top-10 finish in the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Saturday at Casa de Campo Park.
Haskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) entered Saturday’s race in eighth place in the series rankings but made the jump to fourth thanks to her fifth place performance in Madrid. Haskins finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 48 seconds in the Olympic-distance event, 47 seconds off winner Nicola Spirig of Switzerland.
After Haskins and France’s Jessica Harrison were the first out of the water in around 19:30, little separation occurred on the bike, as nearly 40 women entered T2 together. A lead pack of six formed for much of the run, until Spirig pulled away on the bell lap. Spirig finished in 2:06:01, four seconds ahead of France’s Emmy Charayron.
After three races, Haskins has collected 1,447 points in the series rankings. Chile’s Barbara Riveros Diaz, who was sixth Saturday, tops the rankings with 2,082 points.
Jenna Shoemaker (Los Angeles, Calif.) was 27th in 2:10:54, Jillian Petersen (St. Louis, Mo.) took 35th in 2:11:57, Alicia Kaye (Maynard, Mass.) finished 43rd in 2:14:04 and Margaret Shapiro (Herndon, Va.) placed 48th in 2:15:30 to round out the American finishers.
The seven-race WCS is a key proving ground for the United States’ top triathletes hoping for a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. In addition to racing for WCS points, athletes are looking to score points toward securing a spot for their country at the 2012 Olympic Triathlon in London for the first time this weekend in the Spanish capital.
Five American men will be in action Sunday in Madrid, and fans can follow the race live online at triathlonlive.tv at 7 a.m. Eastern. Universal Sports will broadcast a recap of the event later this month.
