Gwen Jorgensen of the U.S. dominated the World Triathlon Series women’s race in Stockholm with a sizzling run to win her 3rd WTS event of the season and take a narrow points lead for the world title going into the Grand Final three weeks from now in London.
Jorgensen quickly overcame a 40 seconds deficit to Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand after the bike leg, passing Hewitt at the start of the 2nd of a 4-lap, 10-kilometer run. Jorgensen then zoomed ahead to finish in 1:55:31 with a 49-seconds advantage on runner-up Non Stanford of Great Britain and 1:14 ahead of 3rd-place finisher Anne Haug of Germany. On a course which appears to have been 1 minute short of the full 10k distance, Jorgensen posted a 31:41 run split which was 45 seconds faster than Stanford and 1:13 better than Haug.
Jorgensen, who is used to posting race-fastest run splits, was more excited about an improved swim and bike legs. “I was thrilled with my swim coming out of the water [9th in 20:38 but just 5 seconds back of swim leaders Sarah Groff and Ellen Pennock),” Jorgensen told ITU media. On the bike, Jorgensen stayed right in the midst of the main pack chasing breakaway leaders Andrea Hewitt and Vanessa Raw. "I think I was just so shocked that I was in the front of the pack, besides those two that went up the road," Jorgensen said when asked about her burst of speed leaving T2. "Jamie Turner (her coach) and I have been working hard on it and to see the hard work starting to pay off just feels really good."
Jorgensen’s win at Stockholm was her 5th podium finish in the 2013 series, which includes early season victories at San Diego and Yokohama. The win also puts Jorgensen back atop the ITU World Triathlon Series season standings with 3,033 points. Fellow Stockholm podium finishers Anne Haug (3,025 points) and Non Stanford (3,020) trail so closely and are far ahead of 4th place Jodie Stimpson so that the WTS world title will very likely be decided among the three at the Grand Final in London.
Jorgensen, a University of Wisconsin NCAA runner who was recruited by USA Triathlon in 2010, broke into prominence with a 2nd-place finish at the 2011 London round of the World Championship Series. After a disappointing Olympics, Jorgensen has been on fire this season and has become the first U.S. woman since Sheila Taormina won the 2004 ITU World Championship gold and Laura Bennett won bronze at the 2005 and 2007 ITU World Championships to make a serious run for the ITU Olympic distance World title.
The race began in the chilly waters of the Baltic Sea with a wetsuit swim, which favors Jorgensen. Brazil’s Pamela Oliveira, Sarah Groff of the U.S. and Mariko Adachi of Japan led a group of 20. Jorgensen was a surprise factor in the midst of the lead pack running to their bikes. Haug, home town favorite Lisa Norden and Stanford started the bike one minute down, but worked hard to catch the main pack. By that time, Hewitt and Raw made their break and led the chasers by 44 seconds entering T2.
Jorgensen passed several women with a race-best 32-seconds bike-to-run transition, then took off in top gear. She passed Raw before the end of the first lap and took over from Hewitt at the beginning of the second lap. Stanford followed Jorgensen and made a move halfway through to run to take over second place, with Maaike Caelers and Anne Haug following in line in a duel for the final spot on the podium. Haug prevailed for 3rd place, as Vicky Holland and Jodie Stimpson of Great Britain surged past Caelers to take 4th and 5th at the line. Caelers hung in to finish 6th, 32 second ahead of Hewitt in 7th, while Sarah Groff of the U.S. finished 8th, 3 seconds back of Hewitt.
Sweden’s Lisa Norden, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist who has been training for the Ironman 70.3 races in a break from the ITU grind, finished 19th.
ITU World Triathlon Stockholm
Stockholm, Sweden
August 24, 2013
S 1.5k / B 40k / R 10k
Women’s Results
1. Gwen Jorgensen (USA) 1:55:31
2. Non Stanford (GBR) 1:56:20
3. Anne Haug (GER) 1:56:45
4. Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:57:02
5. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 1:57:06
6. Maaike Caelers (NED) 1:57:09
7. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 1:57:38
8. Sarah Groff (USA) 1:57:41
9. Aileen Reid (IRL) 1:57:44
10. Alice Betto (ITA) 1:57:48
19. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:59:06
