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**Live
Text Updates** 5:15 The top ten finishers are: 1. Simon Whitfield (CAN), 2. Hunter Kemper (USA), 3. Miles Stewart (AUS), 4. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS), 5. Andy Potts (USA), 6. Greg Bennett (USA), 7. Bryce Quirk (AUS), 8. Simon Thompson (AUS), 9. Victor Plata (USA), 10. Michael Smedley (USA) 5:10 Canada's Simon Whitfield has won the race. Hunter Kemper was second and claimed the Olympic Qualifying spot as the first Canadian. Miles Stewart was third across the line. 4:59 The flash rain storm has now passed and a new leader has emerged on the second lap, with one lap remaining. Stewart is leading the race followed by Kemper, Whitfield, Kahlefeldt, Quirk, Bennett and Potts - all within 150 m of one another. The enthusiastic crowd is even further heightening the excitement. 4:48 The rain is now pouring down on the men's run course in Honolulu. Following the first lap of the run, with two remaining, Bennett has a 50 m lead over Stewart. A further 50 m back Kemper is running with Quirk. Whitfield and Kahlefeldt follow next, then the American's Potts and Plata. 4:39 Bennett and Cunningham are first out of transition with a 3 second lead over Stewart. The rest of the pack is a minute back and currently streaming into transition. Potts, Smedley, Kemper, Umphenour and Quirk lead this group. 4:25 With only 1 lap remaining on the bike Bennett, Stewart and Cunningham are now working together. They have a 40 second lead on Joe Umphenour who is now riding on his own. There is a further 15 second gap to the next pack. 4:13 The third bike lap, with 2 remaining, took the men close to 12 minutes. Richie Cunningham has now taken the lead. 11 seconds behind Cunningham, Greg Bennett is also riding on his own. A further 7 seconds back the chase pack consists of Miles Stewart, Bryce Quirk, Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS), Simon Whitfield (CAN), Simon Thompson (AUS) Joe Umphenour (USA) and Michael Smedley (USA). The next chase pack is a furtehr 2 minutes behind. 4:00 Each lap of the bike is taking the men approximately 9 and a half minutes 3:59 Following the second lap of the bike, Seth Wealing has a 5 second lead over Richie Cunningham. 4 seconds behind Cunningham the chase pack is made up of Matt Reed (NZL), Joe Umphenour (USA), Hunter Kemper (USA) Andy Potts (USA) Michael Smedley (USA) and Miles Stewart (AUS) 3:46 After the first lap of the bike, Australian teammates Bryce Quirk and Greg Bennett are riding together about 5 seconds ahead of the chase pack. The chase pack is comprised of Seth Wheling (USA), Richie Cunningham (AUS), Doug Friman (USA) and Hunter Kemper (USA). 3:31 A large pack has exited the swim together with Andy Potts (USA) in the lead. 3:22 A pack of three is out front after the first lap of the swim - Doug Friman (USA)is leading and is followed by Miles Stewart (AUS) and Hunter Kemper (USA). 3:13
The men's race is underway - and the excitment has already started.
The surf is up and the waves are actually breaking over the athletes.
It is too early to tell who will begin to take the lead. 2:55 The top ten women are:1. Barb Lindquist (USA), 2. Liz Blatchford (AUS), 3. Susan Williams (USA), 4. Sheila Taormina (USA), 5. Julie Swail (USA), 6. Brigitte McMahon (SUI), 7. Evelyn Williamson (NZL), 8. Kelly Cook (USA), 9. Jessie Stensland (USA), 10. Laura Reback (USA) 2:53 The start of the men's race will be delayed until 3:10. Chris Hill (AUS) and Grahan O'Grady (NZL) wil not start the race. 2:51 Sheila Taormina crossed the line in 4th position, followed by Julie Swail, Brigitte McMahon (SUI), Evelyn Williamson (NZL), Kelly Cook (USA), then Jessie Stensland (USA) 2:41 Barb Lindquist has just won the race and qualified for the American Olympic Team! Liz Blatchford was second and Susan Williams third - just seconds behind Lindquist. 2:30 Lindquist is running well - 30 seconds ahead of Taromina and Blatchford as the athetes near the finish. 2:05 Onto the run Taormina is in front with Lindquist only a second behind. Williams and Blatchford are also seperated by only a second and are about 15 seconds behind the leaders. 1:50 Lindquist and Taormina have come through together; followed by Wiliams and Blatchford approximately 15 seconds back. Reback has now fallen about five minutes behind the leaders. 1:41 Maxine Seear (AUS), winner of last weekend's Ishigaki World Cup, has dropped out of the race due to a cold; Joanna Zeiger (USA) has experienced problems with her back and was also forced to drop out. 1:36 Through the third lap of the bike the leaders are riding two by two. Taormina and Lindquist remain in the lead; Reback and Swail are not far behind, Williams and Blatchford have fallen away from Reback and Swail and comprise the third pair. 1:22 Following the second lap, Taormina & Lindquist are still working together and have a lead of about 20 seconds on the chase pack of Reback, Swail, Williams and Liz Blatchford (AUS). 1:08 After the first lap of the bike Taormina & Lindquist are working together out in front. Laura Reback is riding on her own not far behind the two strong cyclists. Reback is being chased by a pack of three that includes Swail and Seear. 12:54 The second pack is out of the water lead by Susan Williams (USA). Julie Swail(USA) and Maxine Seear (AUS) were not far behind Williams. 12:53 Lindquist & Taormina are first out of the water - followed by Zeiger & Reback 12:48 Sheila, Barb, Laura and Joanna, the top ranked american women, are now swimming in a pack together. They have rounded the far turn buoy and are headed back into shore. 12:43 Sheila Taormina is now leading the swim and Barb Lindquist is right on her heels. Joanna Zeiger and Laura Reback are in a pack of 5 not far behind the two leaders. 12:34
After an initial false start the women are now out on the swim - just
a few minutes into the race Barb Lindquist has taken an early lead.
12:10 The pre-race Hawaiian blessing is about to begin. The wind is reported at 15 miles per hour and the surfers currently out in the water are enjoying 4 foot swells. 12:05:
There are ten minutes to go in the elite women's swim warm-up. |