Jan Frodeno of Germany and Alicia Kaye of the United States won the men’s and women’s pro titles over fields loaded with international stars at St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Florida.

This race, the 30th anniversary of this early season classic, also served as the opening round of the 5150 triathlon series.

Frodeno, the 2008 Olympic champion, combined a tied for 8th fastest 19:24 swim, a tied for 6th best 55:01 bike split and a 4th fastest 31:15 run to finish in 1:47:05 with a 10 seconds margin of victory over runner-up Ivan Vasiliev of Russia and 30 seconds ahead of Hunter Kemper of the United States.

After his race, Frodeno was modest about his victory -- his first in a non-drafting event in the U.S. “I was nervous about coming here, especially when it came to the run because that’s not my strong card,” Frodeno told St. Anthony's media representatives. “The other guys kept the pressure on.”

Kaye, who finished 2nd at Nautica South Beach this year, combined a 6th-fastest 21:20 swim, a sizzling race-best 58:41 bike split and a 4th-fastest 35:33 run to finish in 1:57:10 with a 44 seconds margin over runner-up Nicky Samuels of New Zealand and 57 seconds ahead of two-time ITU World Champion Emma Moffatt of Australia.

Kaye said she felt strong all day but never comfortable, as her rivals kept the pressure on. “The gap did not change much throughout the race,” Kaye told St. Anthony's media reps. “I can’t describe how it feels; it’s so emotional to win this race.”

Men

In choppy waters fanned by 15 mph winds and strong currents that forced organizers to cut the amateur’s swim to 750 meters, Josh Amberger of Australia led the pro men in 18:55. He was followed by Denis Vasiliev of Russia (19:11), Cameron Dye of Boulder, Colorado (19:12), Jon Bird and Ben Kanute of the U.S. (19:18), James Seear of Australia (19:20). Most relevant to the final results, Ivan Vasiliev swam 7th (19:21), Jan Frodeno and Hunter Kemper tied for 8th (19:24), 41-year-old Greg Bennett of the U.S. 17th (19:37) and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Sven Riederer of Switzerland 18th (19:38).

"That was the choppiest water that I have ever swam in," Frodeno told the St. Petersburg Times. “I feel sorry for the age groupers who had to swim in that."

On the bike, non-drafting maestro Cameron Dye charged to the lead with a race-fastest 53:58 split that was 40 seconds faster than the next best effort of TJ Tollakson, who was trying hard to make up for his 34th best 20:40 swim. Greg Bennett charged into contention with a 3rd-best 54:52 split, as Frodeno continued his well-balanced day with a 55:01 effort that placed him perfectly for a shot at the win. Hunter Kemper, after a disappointing 25th at the ITU World Triathlon Series event in San Diego last weekend, added a serviceable 12th-best 55:12 bike split to his 19:24 swim to set up a possible podium finish while Ivan Vasiliev inched into position to unleash his excellent run with a decent 55:22 bike leg. After his so-so 19:38 swim, Riederer put himself even further in the hole with a dawdling-for-the-day 56:13 bike split

Once the run started, Dye faded from podium contention with an off-form 21st best 33:50 run that left him 7th at the finish. Headed the other way, Swiss ITU star Sven Riederer roared back from the 20th position with a lightning fast, race-best 30:50 run to take 4th.

But the duel for the win would be between Frodeno, who left T2 in 1:15:52, Kemper (6 seconds back) and Vasiliev (14 seconds down). Kemper was in contention for the win until he was slowed by calf cramps 2 miles from the finish, then went into damage control to finish his run in 5th-fastest 31:39 to take 3rd place. Vasiliev, coming off a 13th-place finish at San Diego last weekend, charged hard with a 2nd-best 31:11 10k run split. But Frodeno answered with a 31:15 run split that gave back 4 seconds but left him 10 seconds to the good at the finish for the win.

Greg Bennett outleaned Chris Foster of Redondo Beach, California at the finish to take 5th. Bennett and Foster posted identical 1:48:17 finish times.

Women

Swim ace Sara McLarty of Clermont, Florida torpedoed through the chop with a race-best 20:37 split. Nicky Samuels of New Zealand was next (20:43), followed by Jessica Harrison of France (20:47), Laura Bennett of Boulder, Colorado (20:51), Catherine Jameson (21:09), Alicia Kaye (21:20), Svenja Bazlen of Germany (21:53) and Radka Vodickova of the Czech Republic (21:55).

“I thought the water would be a lot calmer,” Samuels told St. Anthony's media representatives. “I got a little confused out there, but I loved it because I love waves.”

Olympic silver medalist Lisa Norden of Sweden obviously struggled with an off-form 22:35 swim.

Kaye took control of the race with a race-best 58:41 bike split that was 41 seconds better than Samuels and gave the Clermont, Florida contender a 1-second advantage over Samuels starting the run. Emma Moffatt, a two-time World Champion who was coming off a 3rd-place finish at San Diego last weekend, lost her timing chip and had no time splits, but was obviously in the mix entering the run.

On the run, Kaye’s 35:33 trumped Samuels’ 5th-fastest 36:15 run to take the win by 34 seconds. Moffatt was another 13 seconds back in 3rd. Svenja Bazlen of Germany took 4th in 2:00:10.

Chile’s ITU star Barbara Riveros-Diaz outran Mirinda Carfrae by 3 seconds to take 5th in 2:01:20. Carfrae, the 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion and 2010 Ironman World Champion, posted a 3rd-best 35:16 run to take 6th.

Kelly Williamson of Austin, Texas, far back after a 22nd best swim and 23rd-best bike split, advanced to 14th place with a race-fastest 34:41 run.

McLarty followed her race-best swim with a 15th-fastest bike and 23rd-best run to finish 18th. Lisa Norden did not finish the run.

St. Anthony’s Triathlon
St. Petersburg, Florida
April 28, 2013
S 1.5k / B 40k / R 10k

Results

Male Pro

1. Jan Frodeno (GER) 1:47:05
2. Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) 1:47:15
3. Hunter Kemper (USA) 1:47:35
4. Sven Riederer (SUI) 1:48:06
5. Greg Bennett (AUS) 1:48:17
6. Chris Foster (USA) 1:48:17
7. Cameron Dye (USA) 1:48:27
8. Stuart Hayes (GBR) 1:48:40
9. James Seear (AUS) 1:48:57
10. Matt Reed (USA) 1:49:10

Female Pro

1. Alicia Kaye (USA) 1:57:10
2. Nicky Samuels (NZL) 1:57:54
3. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1:59:07
4. Svenja Bazlen (GER) 2:00:10
5. Barbara Riveros-Diaz (CHL) 2:01:20
6. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 2:01:23
7. Danne Boterenbrood (NED) 2:01:39
8. Anna Battiata (USA) 2:02:25
9. Jessica Harrison (FRA) 2:02:29
10. Lauren Goss (USA) 2:03:01