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 Boulder, Colo., standout places third to earn second straight Games appearance
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Laura Bennett claimed the third and final spot on the 2012 U.S.
Olympic Triathlon Team with a third-place finish Friday at the inaugural ITU World
Triathlon San Diego.
American Laura Bennett claimed the third and final women's U.S. Olympic Triathlon
Team spot Friday at ITU World Triathlon San Diego (Paul Phillips/Competitive Image).
Bennett (Boulder, Colo.) will head to her second straight Olympic Games in August
thanks to a time of 2 hours, 11 seconds on the 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike,
10-kilometer run course throughout Mission Beach. She was fourth in Beijing in 2008.
Great Britain's Helen Jenkins, the ITU World Triathlon Series leader, lifted the
tape in 1:58:20, with Australia's Erin Densham taking second in 1:59:25. Sarah
Haskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) placed eighth today in 2:00:56 for her first top-10
WTS finish since 2010.
Bennett was among the first women out of the water and rode with a pack of eight
leaders throughout the 40k bike. After helping build a 2:30 advantage on the chase
pack heading into T2, Bennett and Haskins, who pushed the pace on the second half
of the bike, quickly established themselves in the top four on the run. Toward the
end of the first of three laps of the 10k, Jenkins and Densham pulled away from
the field to leave the final podium spot up for grabs.
Bennett and Haskins were within a few yards of each other for much of the run before
Bennett opened up a 13-second advantage heading onto the bell lap. By extending
that lead to lock up third, Bennett claimed her first career World Triathlon Series
podium finish and the third all-time by American woman - all coming in the past
eight WTS events.
"It's tough when you have go up against a good friend," Bennett said on her duel
with Haskins, a fellow Beijing Olympian. "I put a lot of pressure on this day.
Last year in London I just had a terrible day for some reason; I'm still just not
quite sure what happened. You know, in the end I think it was a blessing in disguise
because there were things that I changed in my training that I wouldn't have changed
if I had made the team and I think it has made me a better athlete. It's hard to
have the courage to change things when things are going well. So, I'm really happy."
With Gwen Jorgensen (Milwaukee, Wis.), and Sarah Groff (Hanover, N.H.) qualifying
for Team USA with top-nine finishes in London a year ago, just one remaining spot
was up for grabs in San Diego. According to USA Triathlon's 2012 Olympic qualification
criteria, the final spot could be claimed today with a top-nine finish. With two
athletes finishing in the top nine, the final Olympic berth went to Bennett, whose
third-place effort bested Haskins' eighth-place showing.
"Even if I took (my legs) out of the race for the run we both worked really hard
on the bike," Haskins said. "We didn't want to leave it down to us both coming
into (the run) with a big group. Working hard on the bike allowed Laura to get on
the podium. The goal was, essentially, to get an American on the podium."
Groff placed 15th in 2:02:01 in her second race of the season. She was among the
leaders off the bike before fading a bit on the run.
Saturday, seven U.S. men will toe the line looking to join Bennett, Groff and Jorgensen
on the U.S. roster for the London Games. The first U.S. male to cross the finish
line in San Diego will be London bound, regardless of placing. Two men can qualify
for the U.S. Olympic roster in San Diego, provided they both place in the top nine.
If necessary, any remaining spots will be filled by a discretionary selection by
the USA Triathlon Elite Athlete Selection Committee.
Universal Sports will broadcast the races on tape-delay. The women's event will
air May 19; the men's race May 20. Both races are streamed live online and will
be available on-demand at UniversalSports.com.
The eight-event ITU World Triathlon Series 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 WTS points, athletes also will be looking to earn points toward securing
a spot for their country at the 2012 Olympic Triathlon in London. The ITU Olympic
Qualification Period closes May 31, 2012.
Set for Saturday morning, top-flight Olympic- and sprint-distance age group races,
as well as an Olympic-distance relay, will offer amateurs the chance to compete
in the same epic venue as the world's best athletes at the ITU World Triathlon San
Diego. Visit sandiego.triathlon.org for more information on the event.
ITU World Triathlon San Diego
(1,500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run)
Top Women
1. Helen Jenkins (GBR), 1:58:21
2. Erin Densham (AUS), 1:59:26
3. Laura Bennett (Boulder, Colo.), 2:00:11
4. Jessica Harrison (FRA), 2:00:14
5. Vicky Holland (GBR), 2:00:28
6. Flora Duffy (BER), 2:00:46
7. Anne Haug (GER), 2:00:50
8. Sarah Haskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 2:00:56
9. Emma Moffatt (AUS), 2:01:18
10. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS), 2:01:33
15. Sarah Groff (Hanover, N.H.), 2:02:01
41. Kelly Whitley (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 2:04:49
48. Kaitlin Shiver (Melbourne, Fla.), 2:06:08
51. Gwen Jorgensen (Milwaukee, Wis.), 2:06:35
53. Jenna Parker (Santa Monica, Calif.), 2:07:13
55. Jillian Petersen (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 2:08:06
DNF. Lindsey Jerdonek (Sagamore Hills, Ohio)
DNF. Kristi Johnson (Phoenix, Ariz.)
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