2010 Hy-Vee Triathlon

After last year’s amazing 5-man finish line sprint at the million dollar Hy-Vee Triathlon, fellow photographer Paul Phillips and I decided to fight the last war, so to speak. So we set up a remote fisheye camera with motor drive looking down at the finish line area. Well, no close ones this year, but the Hy-Vee stands were going nuts as Emma Moffatt outsprinted Helen Jenkins for SECOND.

In its four year history, the Hy-Vee Triathlon has established a firm place in the firmament of great triathlons, and this year was no exception. Emma Snowsill showed the world she had come all the way back from her 8-month purgatory of injury and illness with her magisterial closing run which overcame a dismal swim. Tim Don displayed the greatness he had in winning the 2006 ITU World Championship in prevailing in a duel with Hamish Carter.

Photographs © Timothy Carlson – plus fisheye finish line shot in collaboration with Paul Phillips.

One woman jumped the gun at the swim start. But it’s not so easy to reel the field back in for a restart, so off they go.

The major chase pack was content to save energy for the big money run and let super swimmers Sara McLarty and Hayley Peirsol wear themselves out with their breakaway. But McLarty could console herself with the $5,000 swim prime.

Emma Moffatt, Liz Blatchford and Kate McIlroy grind through a tight 180-degree turn on the bike.

Jodee Stimpson (7th overall with a 35:30 run) and Paula Findlay (4th overall with a second-best 34:59 run) begin the run in pursuit of Moffatt.

Sarah Haskins grits her teeth coming out of T2 on her way to a disappointingly off-form 16th overall and a 38:15 run.

Manna Damlaimcourt of Spain puts on her shades at speed leaving T2, chasing Yuliya Sapunova.

Halfway through the run, Emma Moffatt leads a pack of great runners – Helen Jenkins, Andrea Hewitt, Jodee Stimpson and Laura Bennett. But looming behind was the assassin – Emma Snowsill.

Once Snowy took control on lap 3, NBC cameras followed here every stride.

Emma the Great gives thanks after a spectacular race-best 34:05 run put her competitors away and earned her a second $200,000 check.

This year’s finish line sprint – 2009 World Championship Series champ Emma Moffatt tops 2008 ITU World Champ Helen Jenkins by a second.

Fisheye view of the Hy-Vee crowd going wild as Moffat edges Jenkins for second. Timothy Carlson camera, lens, motordrive – Paul Phillips’ wireless remotes and clamp. Phillips pulled the trigger.

The men charge out of the swim.

The men’s bike devolved into a 55-man lead pack proceeding in parade formation through the Hy-Vee transition and finish line area.

The men, led by Jan Frodeno and Kris Gemmell, arrive in T2 ready for the real race to begin.

Kris Gemmell eventually prevailed for second in a duel with Courtney Atkinson.

Tim Don resembles no one so much as Olympic legend Emil Zatopek with his near-death grimaces and herky-jerky form. But it gets spectacular results as his race-best 31:12 run was enough to hand on for a 3-seconds margin over Kris Gemmell.

Tim Don wasted all but three seconds of his big lead soaking in the cheers of the crowd before seizing the finish line banner.

The victors lie wasted on the carpet as the conquered come through the finish.

The two Emmas are no longer squad mates – Emma Moffatt switched coaches this year to boyfriend Brad Kahlefeldt – but they are still the best of friends and took their third straight Hy-Vee 1-2 finish.

A $200,000 grin for the newly married Tim Don, who plans to put the check to good use for the arrival of he and his wife’s first child.