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 to 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 to 2012, 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]

Premier Event Management, who formerly produced the Hy-Vee Triathlon, kept the event going as The Des Moines Triathlon in 2015–2016.[11]

Beginning in 2017, IMG and Premier Event Management, announced that the Des Moines Triathlon is now a part of the Escape Series.[12]

Results

Men's winners
YearAthleteCountryTimeLocationNotes
2007Rasmus Henning Denmark1:50:04Des MoinesInaugural race
2008Rasmus Henning (2) Denmark1:54:21West Des Moinesrace moved to West Des Moines due to flooding
2009Simon Whitfield Canada1:49:43West Des MoinesCourse record
2010Tim Don United Kingdom1:50:20West Des Moines
2011Greg Bennett Australia1:47:37Des Moines
2012[13]Javier Gómez Spain1:51:21Des MoinesSwim course moved to Gray's Lake due to low river water levels
2013Javier Gómez (2) Spain1:45:57Des MoinesEntire course at Gray's Lake
2014Hunter Kemper United States1:44:43Des Moines
2015[14]Cam Dye United States1:47:48Des MoinesInaugural Des Moines Triathlon
2016[15]Matthew Hanson United States1:50:35Des Moines2nd Annual Des Moines Triathlon

Women's winners
YearAthleteCountryTimeLocationNotes
2007Laura Bennett United States2:04:30Des MoinesInaugural race
2008Emma Snowsill Australia2:03:15West Des MoinesCourse moved to West Des Moines due to flooding
2009Emma Moffatt Australia1:59:46West Des MoinesCourse record
2010Emma Snowsill (2) Australia1:59.34West Des MoinesCourse record
2011Lisa Nordén Sweden1:59:12Des Moines
2012[13]Lisa Nordén (2) Sweden2:01:59Des MoinesSwim course moved to Gray's Lake due to low river water levels
2013Emma Moffatt (2) Australia1:57:04Des MoinesEntire course held at Gray's Lake
2014Helle Frederiksen Denmark1:54:44Des Moines
2015Sarah Haskins United States2:00:28Des MoinesInaugural Des Moines Triathlon
2016Abby Levene United States2:05:24Des Moines2nd 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. "Hy-Vee Elite Cup Halves Pro Prize Purse". Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  10. "Hy-Vee ends triathlon; another company to keep it running". The Des Moines Register.
  11. "Dye, Haskins dominate at des Moines Triathlon". The Des Moines Register.
  12. http://www.escapeseriestri.com/posts/448/img-to-launch-escape-series
  13. "2012 Hy-Vee triathlon Results". Hy-Vee Triathlon. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  14. "Cam Dye, Sarah Haskins Win des Moines Triathlon". Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  15. "Hanson, Levene claim des Moines Triathlon titles". The Des Moines Register.

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