Laura Bennett, Hunter Kemper Named U.S. Team Captains
Olympic Games veterans Laura Bennett and Hunter Kemper were selected the captains of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team.
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Olympic Games veterans Laura Bennett and Hunter Kemper were selected the captains of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team, USA Triathlon announced today.
See the press release below:
Over the course of their decorated careers, Bennett (Boulder, Colo.) and Kemper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) have combined for six Olympic appearances and three top-10 finishes at the Games. Bennett will captain the women’s squad, while Kemper will serve as the men’s captain.
Laura Bennett (37, Boulder, Colo.)
After placing fourth at the Beijing Games, Laura Bennett has been the most consistent U.S. performer on the ITU World Triathlon Series circuit over the past three years with nine top-eight finishes from 2010-12. She finished 2011 ranked eighth in the ITU World Triathlon Series rankings and captured her third USA Triathlon Elite National Championship title. Bennett qualified for her second Olympic Team with a third-place finish at the 2012 ITU World Triathlon San Diego on May 11.
PHOTOS: U.S. Olympic Team Member Laura Bennett
Hunter Kemper (36, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
One of just three athletes to qualify for all four Olympic triathlons, Hunter Kemper is the top U.S. men’s finisher in all three previous Olympic triathlons with a top showing of seventh in Beijing. Hampered by injury for much of the past three seasons and racing for the first time in seven months, Kemper delivered a fifth-place finish at the 2012 ITU World Triathlon San Diego on May 12 to claim his fourth Olympic berth. He owns U.S. men’s records with seven career USA Triathlon Elite National Championship titles and four career ITU World Cup victories.
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Bennett will compete alongside first-time Olympians Sarah Groff (Hanover, N.H.) and Gwen Jorgensen (Milwaukee, Wis.) in the Aug. 4 women’s triathlon (4 a.m. Eastern), followed by Kemper and Olympic rookie Manuel Huerta (Miami, Fla.) in the Aug. 7 men’s event (6:30 a.m. Eastern). Both races will be aired live on NBC Sports Network.