Sarah Groff of the United States used a race-fastest 17:43 5k run to top runner-up Helle Frederiksen of Denmark by 6 seconds and 3rd place Kaitlin Donner of the U.S. by 14 seconds and win the elite women’s title at the ITU Pan America Cup Sprint Triathlon at Clermont, Florida.

Six days after finishing second at Escape From Alcatraz, Groff combined a tied for 3rd-best 10:17 swim, 8th-best bike split and race-fastest 17:43 run to finish in 1:00:17. So far this year, Groff seems ready and determined to improve on her excellent 4th place Olympic finish.

Groff, Carolina Routier, Radka Vodickova and fellow American Sara McLarty came out of the 750 meter swim in a lead group and rode out front through the 20 kilometer bike. Frederiksen and U.S. competitors Kaitlin Donner and Alicia Kaye charged hard with top three bike splits to make up for slow swims and arrived at T2 on the heels of the leaders. Ultimately Frederiksen’s 3rd-best 30:05 bike split and 2nd-best 17:49 run fell 6 seconds short at the finish.

Donner topped many better known competitors with a 10:37 swim, 2nd-best 30:04 bike split and 3rd-best 17:55 run to take the final spot on the podium in her fourth career Pan America Cup finish.

Alicia Kaye was in excellent position starting the run, but her 18:13 run left her in 4th.

Canadian ITU superstar Paula Findlay, who has been suffering from injury and illness, showed promising form with a 5th place finish, 7 seconds behind Kaye.

USA competitors Katie Hursey (7th) and Sara McLarty (9th) also made the top 10.


ITU Pan America Cup Clermont Sprint
Clermont, Florida
March 9, 2013
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k

Results

Elite Women

1. Sarah Groff (USA) 1:00:17
2. Helle Frederiksen (DEN) 1:00:23
3. Kaitlin Donner (USA) 1:00:31
4. Alicia Kaye (USA) 1:00:44
5. Paula Findlay (CAN) 1:00:51
6. Carolina Routier (ESP) 1:01:07
7. Katie Hursey (USA) 1:01:12
8. Radka Vodickova (CZE) 1:01:22
9. Sara McLarty (USA) 1:02:40
10. Lauren Goss (USA) 1:03:36