It's not often you can lure Olympians like Laurent Vidal, Ivan Vasiliev, Erin Densham, Andres Hewitt, Sarah Groff, Gwen Jorgensen, Aileen Reid, Vendula Frintova, and Radka Vodickova to your midweek triathlon. But that is just what the Fearless Pro Super Sprint Triathlon in Mission Bay did Wednesday April 24. The opportunity arose because several of the competitors in the recent ITU World Triathlon Series event were still in town before traveling off to the next WTS event in Yokohama. Part of the draw was the $20,000 in prize money put up by USA Triathlon. But part of the allure was definitely the visceral thrill of racing flat out for 40 minutes against tall talent with serious competitive cred in a venue less than a mile from the birthplace of the very first triathlon on Fiesta Island.
All photographs © Timothy Carlson
A competitor leaps into Mission Bay at the start of the second swim leg of the Super Sprint Triathlon.
Andrea Hewitt fixes her race number tattoo before finishing 3rd in the women's event.
Jason Pederson finished 8th after adjusting his socks.
Sara McLarty adjusts her bike.
The women's swim start.
Sarah Groff finished the swim a foot ahead of super swimmer Sara McLarty.
Gwen Jorgenson finishes the swim.
Sarah Groff has a big lead after her second swim
Andrea Hewitt drives hard on the bike.
Sarah Groff and Sara McLarty ride to a lead during the first bike leg.
Anna Battiata finished 8th.
Aileen Reid finished 5th and earned $800.
Sarah Groff adds another 2013 Sprint title after her Clermont Sprint win.
The men's swim start.
One of the Vasiliev brothers.
Joe Maloy finished 4th.
Laurent Vidal of France finished 2nd.
Leaping into the second swim segment.
John Dahlz of South San Francisco finished 12th.
Kaleb Vanort runs during one of the preliminary heats
