Hy-Vee Triathlon

The Hy-Vee Triathlon (now known as The Des Moines Triathlon) was an Olympic-distance triathlon race held in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. From 2011–2014, the race served as the World Triathlon Corporation's 5150 Series U.S. Championships.[1] Previously, it was part of the ITU Triathlon World Cup series from 2008 to 2010.[2] The annual triathlon event attracted many of the top professional triathletes in the world due, in part, to having the largest prize purse awarded for Olympic-distance races in the sport[3] (and from 2008–12, the largest in the sport overall[4][5]). In addition to professional triathletes, the triathlon event features competition among amateur athletes as well.

History

The first edition of the event, held June 17, 2007, featured the largest prize in triathlon history, at $200,000 each for the men's and women's elite winners through organizer and presenting sponsor Hy-Vee, a regional grocer. Approximately 10,000 spectators came downtown to the event, which was held in downtown Des Moines, swimming at Gray's Lake and finishing at the Iowa State Capitol.

The 2008 edition, held June 22, served as the final United States qualifier for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Due to flooding, it was moved to West Des Moines.[6] Initially, there was uncertainty about its Olympic-qualifying status, as bacteria levels in nearby Blue Heron Lake left the swimming option in questionable status. However, officials confirmed that there would be swimming.[7] As part of the Olympic qualifying Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins claimed the final United States Olympic spots as Rasmus Henning and three-time World Champion Emma Snowsill were the overall winners.

In 2011, the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announced that the Hy-Vee triathlon would serve as the site for its 5150 Series U.S. Championships. The race will have the largest prize purse in triathlon, with $1 million total being paid out and $151,500 going to the men and women’s winners.[8] The race was moved from June to Labor Day weekend and returned downtown after three years in West Des Moines.

In 2013, Hy-Vee announced that it was reducing the total purse from $1.1 million to $500,000. The men's and women's winners received $100,000 each with $20,000 going to 2nd place and $15,000 to third.[9]

Hy-Vee opted to discontinue the event following the 2014 edition.[10]

In 2015, Premier Event Management, who formerly produced the Hy-Vee Triathlon, has kept the event going as The Des Moines Triathlon.[11]

Results

Men's winners

Year Athlete Country/State Time LocationNotes
2007 Rasmus Henning  Denmark 1:50:04 Des Moines Inaugural race
2008 Rasmus Henning (2)  Denmark 1:54:21 West Des Moines race moved to West Des Moines due to flooding
2009 Simon Whitfield  Canada 1:49:43 West Des Moines Course record
2010 Tim Don  United Kingdom 1:50:20 West Des Moines
2011 Greg Bennett  Australia 1:47:37 Des Moines
2012[12] Javier Gómez  Spain 1:51:21 Des Moines Swim course moved to Gray's Lake due to low river water levels
2013 Javier Gómez (2)  Spain 1:45:57 Des Moines Entire course at Gray's Lake
2014 Hunter Kemper  United States 1:44:43 Des Moines
2015[13] Cam Dye  United States 1:47:48 Des Moines Inaugural Des Moines Triathlon
2016[14] Matthew Hanson  United States 1:50:35 Des Moines 2nd Annual Des Moines Triathlon

Women's winners

Year Athlete Nation TimeLocationNotes
2007 Laura Bennett  United States 2:04:30 Des Moines Inaugural race
2008 Emma Snowsill  Australia 2:03:15 West Des Moines Course moved to West Des Moines due to flooding
2009 Emma Moffatt  Australia 1:59:46 West Des Moines Course record
2010 Emma Snowsill (2)  Australia 1:59.34 West Des Moines Course record
2011 Lisa Nordén  Sweden 1:59:12 Des Moines
2012[12] Lisa Nordén (2)  Sweden 2:01:59 Des Moines Swim course moved to Gray's Lake due to low river water levels
2013 Emma Moffatt (2)  Australia 1:57:04 Des Moines Entire course held at Gray's Lake
2014 Helle Frederiksen  Denmark 1:54:44 Des Moines
2015 Sarah Haskins  United States 2:00:28 Des Moines Inaugural Des Moines Triathlon
2016 Abby Levene  United States 2:05:24 Des Moines 2nd Annual Des Moines Triathlon

References

  1. ↑ "WTC Announces Qualification and Prize Distribution Details for 5150 U.S. Championship". Ironman.com. November 20, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  2. ↑ "ITU Event Search". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130825/SPORTS/308260031/Hy-Vee-Triathlon-Here-s-five-things-to-watch-this-year?Frontpage
  4. ↑ "Triathlon's Biggest Prize Is in ... Iowa?". Wall Street Journal. August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  5. ↑ Hichens, Liz (6 November 2009). "2010 ITU Triathlon World Cup Calendar Announced". Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Branch, John (14 June 2008). "Flood Puts Triathlon Qualifier in Doubt". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  7. ↑ "As Iowa floods recede, final triathlon qualifier still planned". ESPN.com. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  8. ↑ Mavis, Bethany (11 August 2011). "Pros Qualify For Hy-Vee 5150 Champs, Macca Accepts Invite". Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  9. ↑ http://triathlon.competitor.com/2013/04/news/hy-vee-elite-cup-halves-pro-prize-purse_73173
  10. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2015/02/10/hy-vee-triathlon-racing-des-moines/23183423/
  11. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2015/09/06/dye-haskins-dominate-des-moines-triathlon/71814116/
  12. 1 2 "2012 Hy-Vee triathlon Results". Hy-Vee Triathlon. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  13. ↑ http://triathlon.competitor.com/2015/09/news/cam-dye-sarah-haskins-win-des-moines-triathlon_121746
  14. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2016/09/04/hanson-levene-claim-des-moines-triathlon-titles/89864828/

External links

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