Plata and Groff win in San Francisco
Victor Plata and Sarah Groff were victorious at the 2008 San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island, the final race in the USA Triathlon Haul to the Great Wall Elite Series. But the series titles belong to Matty Reed and Julie Ertel.
Victor Plata's great season ending form form helped him win the Pacific Grove Triathlon a few weeks earlier, and also gave him the power to hold off any challengers here. Joe Umphenour finished second in 1:54:47 and Brian Fleischmann came in third in 1:55:03.
In the women's race, Sarah Groff took her first win of the season. She had been close a few times recently with a couple second place finishes in the Huatulco World Cup in Mexico and the Escape to Bermuda triathlon, but this time she was not going to be denied. Julie Ertel and Rachel McBride rounded out the podium.
The Haul to the Great Wall Elite Series titles had already been decided prior to this event, with Reed and Ertel taking honors there. The runner-up positions though were not decided yet, and strong performances by Fleischmann and Umphenour allowed them to take second and third in the series. The solid performance by Sarah Groff allowed her to move into second place, and Sarah Haskins who had opted not to race in San Francisco slipped back to third.
San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island
San Francisco, CA / November 8
S 1.5k / B 40k / R 10k
Top 10 men
1. Victor Plata 1:54:29
2. Joe Umphenour 1:54:47
3. Brian Fleischmann 1:55:03
4. Francisco Serrano 1:55:23
5. Matt Reed 1:55:53
6. Michael Raelert 1:55:57
7. Mark Fretta 1:56:16
8. Arturo Garza 1:56:46
9. Kevin Collington 1:57:02
10. Oscar David Preciado 1:57:27
Top 10 women
1. Sarah Groff 2:05:49
2. Julie Ertel 2:06:44
3. Rachel McBride 2:07:16
4. Jillian Petersen 2:07:27
5. Alexis Smith 2:07:58
6. Jodie Swallow 2:09:11
7. Ayesha Rollinson 2:10:46
8. Rebecca Witinok-Huber 2:11:53
9. Kelly Couch 2:13:15
10. Tenille Hoogland 2:15:45
