Taormina,
Docherty Win Clermont ITU International Triathlon
CLERMONT,USA.
(May 4, 2003) Sheila Taormina of
the United States and Beven Docherty of New Zealand withstood hot temperatures,
high humidity and a lake inhabited by
alligators to win the ITU International Triathlon in Clermont, Florida.
With a 30 second lead out
of the water, Sheila Taormina built her lead to almost four minutes on the bike
over a chase pack of 12 women, then was able to hold off Andrea Whitcombe of
Great Britain in the run, for the win today at the Clermont USAT National
Training Centre in Florida, USA. Lauren Groves of Canada was 3rd. In the men's
event, Bevan Docherty of New Zealand had to make up an 18 second deficit after
the swim, but went on to post the fastest bike and run split, and crossed the
finishline 26 seconds ahead of Vlodomyr Polikarpenko of the Ukraine. Doug
Friman of the USA rounded out the men's podium
Following the race Taormina
said of her phenomenal lead on the bike; On the first lap, I went out easy and
waited to see how people formed, she said. By the second lap, I realized they
werent gaining ground and decided to keep going on my own.
In the men’s event, the
swim almost proved to be Dochertys undoing, but not because of alligators. The hottest part of the race was the swim,
he said. I didnt really feel the heat on the bike or the run.
On the bike, Docherty was
part of a lead pack that consisted of teammate Graham OGrady, Canadas Brent
McMahon, Germanys Dirk Bockel, Ukraines Polikarpenko and Andriy Glushchenko and
Brian Fleischmann and Doug Friman of the United States.
The race earned the top 10
men and women valuable ITU points, necessary for their world ranking and
Olympic qualification. The winners also took home $2,500 and the top 10 men and
women divided a $20,000 prize purse.
1. Sheila Taormina (USA)
2:01:55; 2. Andrea Whitcombe (Great Britain) 2:03:22; 3. Lauren Groves (Canada)
2:04:55; 4. Erika Molnar (Hungary) 2:05:35; 5. Natasha Filliol (Canada)
2:06:30; 6. Jessica Harrison (Great Britain) 2:07:04; 7. Julie Swail (USA)
2:07:15; 8. Courtney Bennigson (USA.) 2:07:32; 9. Tara Ross (USA) 2:07:34; 10.
Kelly Rea (USA) 2:08:08
1. Beven Docherty (New
Zealand) 1:50:29; 2. Volodymyr Polikarpenko (Ukraine) 1:50:55; 3. Doug Friman (USA.)
1:50:58; 4. Andriy Glushchenko (Ukraine) 1:51:27; 5. Dirk Bockel (Germany)
1:51:45; 6. Graham O'Grady (New Zealand) 1:52:48; 7. Eligio Cervantes (Mexico)
1:52:52; 8. Victor Plata (USA.) 1:53:01; 9. Arturo Garza (Mexico) 1:53:10; 10.
Marcel Vifian (USA) 1:53:19