No Americans Secure 2012 Olympic Berths at Hyde Park
USA Triathlon
August 7, 2011 (London, UK) – Manuel Huerta battled through rainy conditions to lead the United States’ contingent with a 25th-place finish Sunday at the International Triathlon Union World Championship Series event at Hyde Park.
Huerta (Miami, Fla.) logged a time of 1 hour, 52 minutes, 30 seconds on the proposed 2012 Olympic Course, which features a 1,500-meter swim, 42.9-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run. Matt Chrabot (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was 42nd in 1:53:20.
Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain earned gold in 1:50:09, followed by Russia’s Alexander Bryukhanov and Great Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee.
Jarrod Shoemaker (Maynard, Mass.) was forced to abandon the race following a bike crash on the fifth of seven bike laps. Hunter Kemper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) withdrew on the run due to a stomach illness.
Two men’s spots on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team could have been claimed with top-nine finishes by the Americans. With no spots secured today in London, the next chance to qualify will come at a to-be-determined WCS race in the spring of 2012.
All four U.S. men exited the swim within 40 seconds of leader Javier Gomez of Spain. A group of four broke away in the first half of the bike with the American quartet riding in a chase pack of nearly 60 athletes. Chrabot and Kemper were aggressive on the bike, riding near the front of the large group.
With heavy rain now falling, the chase group hit the 10k run course 1:14 behind the leaders. Huerta had established himself as the top American midway through the run, and he closed with a 30:53 run split to finish 49 seconds out of a top-nine finish and an Olympic berth.
“I’m disappointed that I didn’t make the automatic qualification for the Olympics … I’m looking forward to getting faster, getting stronger and staying healthy for the next [qualifier],” said Huerta.
The seven-race WCS is a key proving ground for the United States’ top triathletes aiming for a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. In addition to racing for WCS points, athletes also will be looking to earn points toward securing a spot for their country at the 2012 Olympic Triathlon in London.
London Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series
Men
1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR), 1:50:09
2. Alexander Bryukhanov (RUS), 1:50:34
3. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR), 1:51:04
25. Manuel Huerta (Miami, Fla.), 1:52:30
42. Matt Chrabot (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:53:20
DNF Hunter Kemper (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
DNF Jarrod Shoemaker (Maynard, Mass.)
