09 Chicago Triathlon – Pros

The Chicago Triathlon is a North American non-drafting classic with a history of recognizing triathletic greatness throughout its 27-year history. Winners have included Hall of Famers Spencer Smith, Simon Lessing, Craig Walton, Chris McCormack, Mike Pigg, Greg Welch, and top rank women like Michellie Jones, Joanna Zeiger, Emma Snowsill, Karen Smyers, Barb Lindquist and Becky Lavelle. Sunday, Matt Reed and Sarah Haskins joined their ranks with great performances, aided in part by the unfortunate crashes of Andy Potts and Julie Dibens. The swim in the close quarters Monroe Harbor, the bike along the steel and glass canyons of speedy Lakeshore Drive, and the run around the aquarium all offer an urban amphitheater unparalleled in the sport.

Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

Sarah Haskins, the 2008 ITU World Championship silver medalist, fought back from early season injuries to score a 5th at Madrid, a 4th at Washington DC and a 6th at Yokohama in the ITU World Championship Series, and a win at Life Time Fitness Toyota Cup round one in Minneapolis. On Sunday, Haskins ran a second-fastest 36:45 10km on her way to a 35-second margin of victory.

Jenna Shoemaker, sister of 2008 Olympian Jarrod Shoemaker, has had a breakthrough season with a win at the Mazatlan ITU Pan Am Cup, a 2nd at the PATCO Pan Am Championships, a 3rd at the Austin Pan Am Cup, and a 2nd at the USA Triathlon Elite Nationals. A bit worn down, Shoemaker was satisfied with 5th at Chicago.

Matt Reed came to Chicago aggravated at his tactical errors that led to a third place finish the previous weekend at Elite Nationals in Tuscaloosa. Emerging from the swim with a 47-second deficit, Reed stormed to the front on the bike and never let up.

Andrew Yoder, the 21-year-old sensation who shook up the pro field at New York City with a sizzling bike that gave him a 2-minute lead, didn’t get a chance to repeat his feat and DNF’d on the bike.

Sarah Groff finished 2nd last year in Chicago, and repeated this year. But Groff felt some satisfaction in passing last year’s winner Becky Lavelle on the run and finishing much closer to winner Sarah Haskins. “It’s getting better,” said Groff.

After 58 waves of age groupers, a much smaller pack of elite women pros took off at 11:15 AM.

Andy Potts won the swim and but crashed when riding second 8 miles on the bike. A statement from race officials said that Potts fainted while being treated for cuts and bruises after colliding with an age group rider.

Matt Chrabot, coming off a breakthrough win at USAT Elite Nationals the week before, runs next to Mark Fretta from the swim to T1. By the finish, Chrabot placed second, 57 seconds behind Reed.

Jenna Shoemaker takes off 5th on the bike and finished 5th after the run.

Julie Dibens made up nearly a minute on frontrunner Sarah Haskins by the first turnaround on Lakeshore Drive. But when she reached down for a water bottle, Dibens collided with an age grouper and DNF’d with cut and bruises and a very sore elbow.

David Thompson, on the mend from a 2008 hernia operation, scored 2nd-fastest bike with a 55:35 split and his 5th -fastest 33:51 run left him 4th overall.

Tim O’Donnell, after wins at Boulder 5430 long course and Calgary 70.3 and a second place finish at USAT Elite Nationals, rounded out August with a 3rd at Chicago.

Matt Reed stormed to the lead with a race-best 54:52 bike and held on with a 33:16 run for a 1:48:27 finish.

Aftermath of a crash – one of the bikes (not Andy Potts’) lays smashed on Lakeshore Drive.

David Thompson storms south down Lakeshore Drive with a tailwind during a second-best 55:35 split.

Matt Chrabot rode a third-best 55:42 bike and fourth-best 33:30 run to take second place.

Mark Fretta, now one of the world’s fastest lawyers afoot after getting his JD in Oregon, runs in front of the Aquarium on his way to 5th place.

Matt Reed soaks in the crowd in the finish chute.

Reed and Chrabot exchange compliments after their 1-2 finish.

Sarah Haskins earned $10,000 and this trophy for her virtually wire-to-wire win.