Norden Repeats At Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championship

Despite racing both in the individual and the team events at the ITU World Triathlon Series Stockholm event just one week ago, 2012 Olympic silver medalist Lisa Norden was able to successfully defend her title at the Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championship and take home the largest prize purse in the sport.

The women kicked off the elite cup action at 1:30 p.m. CDT with a 1500m swim in Gray’s Lake. In past Hy-Vee races professionals swam in the Des Moines River, but with water levels unusually low the swim was moved to Gray’s Lake, the same location where the age-group events take place. In addition to racing for the top prize of $151,500, athletes were also jockeying to be the first at each of the 10 prime spots. A prize of $5,150 went to the first athlete to cross each prime spot.

American Sarah Haskins, who just missed making the 2012 London Olympic team, went hard from the gun. She exited the first of the two-lap swim in 9:38, six seconds ahead of American Lauren Brandon. Haskins was also the first out of the second lap of the swim, giving her both $5,150 swim primes. Her lead stood at nearly 30 seconds heading into T1 and she was followed by Laura Bennett (USA), Catherine Jameson (GBR), Sarah Groff (USA) and Liz Blatchord (GBR).

Once on the bike Haskins continued to hammer, finishing lap one 20 seconds ahead of Norden.

By lap two of the bike Haskins built her lead to 30 seconds over former Olympian Becky Lavelle (USA). Lap three is when the chase pack behind her started to get organized. Alicia Kaye (USA), Norden, Stimpson and Blatchford all cut into Haskins’ lead on the third of the four laps.  By the time bike turned to run, Haskins’ lead stood at 16 seconds over Norden, Blatchford and Canadian Angela Naeth, who posted the fastest bike split of the day. After the race Norden revealed that she had mechanical issues on the second lap of the bike, but was able to fix it and get back on course.

It was Norden who passed Haskins on the first lap of 10K run course. She worked to build her lead, but Haskins was able to stay within striking distance of the silver medalist through the second lap. Eventually Norden pushed the pace and broke away on the third lap. She held her lead all the way to the finish line, taking the win in 2:01:59. Norden took home the $151,500 winning prize and $20,600 in prime bonuses. Haskins, who took home the rest of the prime prize money, finished second. Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson, who was controversially left off of Great Britain’s Olympic team, finished third.

PHOTOS: 2012 5150 Hy-Vee U.S. Championship

5150 Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championship
Des Moines, Iowa –Sept. 2, 2012
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run

Women’s Race
1. Lisa Norden (SWE) 2:01:59 $151,500
2. Sarah Haskins (USA) 2:02:50 $75,000
3. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 2:03:37 $50,000
4. Angela Naeth (CAN) 2:03:46 $25,000
5. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) 2:04:02 $20,000
6. Kelly Williamson (USA) 2:04:26 $18,000
7. Laura Bennett (USA) 2:04:30 $16,000
8. Liz Blatchford (GBR) 2:04:44 $14,000
9. Radka Vodickova (CZE) 2:05:53 $12,000
10. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 2:06:04 $10,000

Prime #1 (swim)– Sarah Haskins (USA) $5,150
Prime #2 (swim)– Sarah Haskins (USA) $5,150
Prime #3 (bike)– Sarah Haskins (USA) $5,150
Prime #4 (bike) – Sarah Haskins (USA) $5,150
Prime #5 (bike) – Sarah Haskins (USA) $5,150
Prime #6 (out of T2) – Sarah Haskins (USA) $5,150
Prime #7 (run) – Lisa Norden (SWE) $5,150
Prime #8 (run) – Lisa Norden (SWE) $5,150
Prime #9 (run) – Lisa Norden (SWE) $5,150
Prime #10 (run) – Lisa Norden (SWE) $5,150

Complete results.