Published August 26, 2012 03:04PM
Kemper, Haskins Claim Titles At 30th Anniversary Of Life Time Chicago Tri
The 30th anniversary event welcomed more than 9,000 racers.
Sarah Haskins sets a course record finishing in 1:57:50, just nine seconds ahead of a rapidly closing Hunter Kemper to take home the "equalizer" title and an additional $5,000 prime. Photo: Competitive Image
Americans Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins took the victories on a soggy day at the Life Time Chicago Tri. The race also served as the fifth stop in the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup.
The race is one of the oldest and largest in the country. The 30th anniversary event welcomed more than 9,000 racers, with some competing in the sprint race and others opting for the longer international distance. Aside from its size, the Life Time Chicago Tri is also unique in that the age-group athletes compete before the pros to allow amateurs to stick around and watch the professional race play out.
Men’s Race
The men kicked off the action with American super swimmer Dustin McLarty posting the fastest 1500-meter swim split at 20:22. Kemper, the United States’ Cameron Dye and Great Britain’s Stuart Hayes were right on his heels as they made the run up to T1.
ADVERTISEMENT
As he always does, Dye hammered the bike leg and built a lead over the group by the time they reached T2. He was followed by American Ben Collins, Hayes, Australian Greg Bennett and then Kemper. Kemper used his Olympic speed to blow away the competition and easily eliminate the 1:35 advantage Dye had off of the bike. Kemper’s 32-minute 10K gave him the 1:48:51 victory. Hayes posted the second-fastest run of the day to earn second, with Bennett rounding out the podium in third.
Women’s Race
Olympian Laura Bennett led the women out of Lake Michigan in a time of 21:19. Haskins was next at 21:25, with Australia’s Annabel Luxford taking the third spot into T1. Haskins quickly took control of the race and hammered the bike, posting the second-fastest bike split of the women in 59:49 to hold the lead after 40K of cycling. Luxford was next into T2. American Alicia Kaye posted the fastest bike time at 59:00 to hold third position starting the run. Haskins carried her confidence off of the bike and onto the run, posting a 38:21 10K to earn the 2:00:37 victory. Bennett turned in a quick run to earn second, with Luxford claiming the third spot.
Coming into the race, Haskins and Dye held the top spots in the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup standings. The next stop on the schedule is the Herbalife Triathlon Los Angeles on Sept. 30. The final event, the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon, will take place on Oct. 7 in Dallas.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chicago Life Time Tri
Chicago, Ill. – Aug. 26, 2012
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
Men
1. Hunter Kemper (USA) 1:48:51
2. Stuart Hayes (GBR) 1:49:41
3. Greg Bennett (AUS) 1:50:09
4. Cameron Dye (USA) 1:50:56
5. Ben Collins (USA) 1:51:18
Women
1. Sarah Haskins (USA) 2:00:37
2. Laura Bennett (USA) 2:02:22
3. Annabel Luxford (AUS) 2:02:32
4. Elizabeth Blatchford (GBR) 2:03:05
5. Alicia Kaye (USA) 2:03:11