Haskins just misses podium at Lisbon
May 7, 2007
-- Press Release: Sarah Haskins recovered from a nasty fall in the run and raced to a World Cup career-best at the inaugural Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup on Sunday. Haskins was leading the field after the swim leg but spent much of the bike in a large tightly contested lead pack. With one lap to go, 48 women were within 18 seconds of the leader. Haskins remained in the lead pack as the women set out on the 40-kilometer run. Despite slipping around a corner and cutting her hand, she rebounded and finished strong for fourth place. Coming into Lisbon, Haskins was unranked but now jumps to number 13 in the world and earns significant Olympic qualifying points. Joanna Zeiger was the second-highest American, finishing in 26th spot.
Approximately 40,000 Portuguese fans were treated with a rare opportunity to cheer on their superstar and Vanessa Fernandes did not disappoint them. Despite trailing the leader by 36 seconds after the swim, she worked her way into the lead pack during the bike leg, then quickly broke away within the first 50 meters of the run and never looked back. Fernandes delighted the Portuguese faithful as she coasted to the finish line, winning by almost 90 seconds and overtaking the world number one ranking. It’s her second straight World Cup win of 2007 and the 15th of her already illustrious career, inching ever closer to the all-time record of 19 held by Australian Emma Carney.
2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup – Final Women’s Results:
1st – Vanessa Fernandes (POR) 2:04:45
2nd – Michelle Dillon (GBR) 2:06:06
3rd – Christiane Pilz (GER) 2:06:30
4th – Sarah Haskins (St. Louis, MO) 2:06:45
26th – Joanna Zeiger (Boulder, CO) 2:09:26
30th – Mary Beth Ellis (Boulder, CO) 2:09:40
46th – Amanda Stevens (Enid, OK) 2:14:28
49th – Heidi Grimm (Fort Lewis, WA) 2:19:02
DNS – Rebecah Wassner (New York, NY)
In the men’s race, Matthew Seymour was the top American finishing in 31st place. Jarrod Shoemaker, the 2005 Under23 World Champion was just behind in 34th spot. But by making the top 50, Seymour and Shoemaker still earn important Olympic qualifying points as the race to qualify for Beijing heats up.
Spaniard Javier Gomez, the 2006 World Cup series winner, ran away with the men’s title. On the second lap he overtook Brit Oliver Freeman for the lead and surged ahead, continuing to distance himself from the rest of the field. He crossed the line with a time of 1:52:41 for his fourth career World Cup title. Czech Filip Ospaly won silver while Aussie Brad Kahlefeldt took the bronze.
2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup – Final Men’s Results:
1st – Javier Gomez (ESP) 1:52:41
2nd – Filip Ospaly (CZE) 1:52:53
3rd – Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 1:52:58
31st – Matthew Seymour (Honolulu HI) 01:55:39
34th – Jarrod Shoemaker (Sudbury, MA) 1:55:45
54th – Dave Messenheimer (Colorado Springs, CO) 01:58:58
60th – Timothy O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, CO) 02:10:00
DNF – Manuel Huerta (Colorado Springs, CO)
For full results, schedule, race reports, athlete quotes and high-resolution images, visit the ITU’s Online Media Centre:
https://www.triathlon.org/media/Lisbon-medpanelopen.php
Up next:
In just one week, the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup series heads to Richards Bay, South Africa, just the second time a World Cup race will held in Africa. The world’s best triathletes return to picturesque Richards Bay to battle for Olympic qualifying points and US$100,000 in prize money. Americans expected in the field include Timothy O’Donnell, Matthew Seymour, Amanda Stevens and Joanna Zeiger.