| Jennifer
Gutierrez won the USAT Goodwill Games elite qualifier when
Barb Lindquist collapsed two miles from the finish, but she
was the one being consoled in Lausanne. Following a good swim
(19:55) she left the race with a rush of air from a flat tire
and waited for her teammates at the finish line.
Jennifer
Gutierrez is consoled by top US finisher Barb Lindquist in the
finish area. |
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Siri
Lindley couldn't quite latch on to the lead bike pack but
managed to tough it out enough to cross the line in 15th place
and help the US to a second place team finish.
Siri
Lindley grits it out up the narrow streets of old Lausanne. |
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| Waiting
is the hardest part of competition for those on the top--and
those hoping to get there. Emma Carney, Michellie Jones and
Barb Lindquist hang out at the swim start during last-minute
course prep and contemplate the opening signal that will usher
in the next two hours of their competitive lives.
Carney,
Jones and Lindquist wait. |
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The
only point in the race when everyone shares the same time is
before the gun. Anxious not to lose their position, hopefuls
hurry into the water behind a casual green-capped Emma Carney
and Goodwill Games Champion Loretta Harrop.
Loretta
Harrop leads the pack into the swim. |
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| Racers
had to contemplate the 17 percent climb out of old Lausanne
four times before the final descent back to T2. Not enough of
a hill to break up the packs, the pitch still burned a few
legs and added to the spectacle of the race. Gale Laurence
helped set much of the pace and kept her teammates within
reach of the top ten and a team second.
Gale
Laurence and the lead pack approach the apex of the bike. |
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Evelyn
Williamson carried her third-place finish down the final 100
meters of the course like a first-place champion. With pride
and enthusiasm she would rush to call New Zealand and tell her
mother what she and the spectators already knew, "I did
good."
Evelyn
Williamson shares the glory of her top-three finish by waving
her country's flag. |
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Defending
World Champion Chris McCormack had a sensational race at
world's last year but has not realized the same success
throughout the season. Granted a "1" in deference to
Perth, even he sensed that the number being stamped onto his
body before the race would be his for only a short time
longer.
Defending
World Champion Chris McCormack at body marking. |
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The
top-ranked ITU athletes receive variously colored swim caps to
help them stand out from the crowd. Simon Lessing likes to
blend in and doffed his colors in favor of the baby blue of
the masses.
Simon
Lessing about to take the plunge. |
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Miles
Stewart was not among the favorites in Lausanne, but he didn't
care. Working with his mates, he caught up to the lead bike
pack and then used his Aussie heart to post a sub 32-minute
run and take the bronze.
Miles
Stewart picks up the pace through the last 2k of the run. |
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The
main chase pack began the loop back to downtown Lausanne that
would see them catch the leaders.
The main
chase pack (including Wes Hobson in blue) worked together in
pursuit of the leaders. |
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Jimmy
Riccitello got out of the water too late to join the main
chase pack and take advantage of his biking skills. Doomed to
play catch up for the remainder of the day, he continued to
race through the last 2k of the run.
Jimmy
Riccitello raced for a top-three finish among the Americans
and 32nd overall.
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Under
the spotlight of a setting sun, Simon Lessing acknowledged the
reacquisition of the ITU crown and casual dominance over his
would-be peers.
Simon
Lessing savors his fourth world championship win. |
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