Triathletes cover all moves at Carlsbad 5000
Jarrod Shoemaker, former U23 World Tri Champ and upcoming U.S. Olympian in Beijing, breezed to a win at the Carlsbad 5000 "Under-29" event in a very respectable 14:32. Shoemaker is a runner of note, posting a 14:09 track 5000m time while attending Dartmouth College.
The Women's 30-39 was won by former water polo standout and now top American Olympic triathlon hopeful Julie Swail in 17:05. Former Hawaiian Ironman champ Heather Fuhr (pictured) took the Masters Women's race in 17:11.
Shoemaker took the race easily on a day when the elite race times were quite slow. His 14:32 was :12 clear of second place. U.S. National U23 triathlon champ Ethan Brown finished in seventh place, in 14:57.
The "People's Race," as it has become known throughout the history of the Coastal San Diego County event, has long been a staple for domestic and foreign pro triathletes taking advantage of San Diego's balmy Spring weather.
Mark Allen and Kenny Souza famously dueling to a 14:38 finish in the early '90s. Multiple World Triathlon champion Spencer Smith once tried to run sub-14:20 at Carlsbad, bravely running well clear of the field through miles one and two in 4:24 and 8:55 respectively, before fading to finish in 14:55.