Hy-Vee Triathlon
Encyclopedia
The Hy-Vee Triathlon is an Olympic-distance triathlon
race held in Des Moines, Iowa
, USA. It has been a participant in the ITU Triathlon World Cup
series three times from 2008 to 2010, and serves as the World Triathlon Corporation's 5150 Series 2011 U.S. Championships. The annual triathlon event attracts many of the top professional triathletes in the world due, in part, to having one of the largest prize purses awarded in the sport. In addition to professional triathletes, the triathlon event features competition among amateur athletes as well.
.
The 2008 edition, held June 22, served as the final United States qualifier for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing, China. Due to flooding
, it was moved to West Des Moines. Initially, there was uncertainty about its Olympic-qualifying status, as bacteria levels in nearby Blue Heron Lake left the swimming option in questionable status. However, officials confirmed that there would be swimming. As part of the Olympic qualifying Hunter Kemper
and Sarah Haskins
claimed the final United States Olympic spots as Rasmus Henning
and three-time World Champion Emma Snowsill
were the overall winners.
For 2011, the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announced that the Hy-Vee triathlon would serve as the site for its inaugural 5150 Series U.S. Championships. The race will have the largest prize purse in triathlon, with $1.1 million total being paid out and $151,500 going to the men and women’s winners.
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
race held in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, USA. It has been a participant in the ITU Triathlon World Cup
ITU Triathlon World Cup
The ITU Triathlon World Cup is an annual series of triathlon races staged around the world. The series is organised by the International Triathlon Union , the world governing body of the sport. BG Group was the title sponsor of the series from 2000 to 2008...
series three times from 2008 to 2010, and serves as the World Triathlon Corporation's 5150 Series 2011 U.S. Championships. The annual triathlon event attracts many of the top professional triathletes in the world due, in part, to having one of the largest prize purses awarded in the sport. In addition to professional triathletes, the triathlon event features competition among amateur athletes as well.
History
The first edition of the event, held June 17, 2007, featured the largest prize in triathlon history, at $200,000 each for the men's and women's elite winners. Approximately 10,000 spectators came downtown to the event, which was held in downtown Des Moines, swimming at Grey's Lake and finishing at the Iowa State CapitolIowa State Capitol
The Iowa State Capitol is located in Iowa's capital city, Des Moines, and houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State...
.
The 2008 edition, held June 22, served as the final United States qualifier for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, China. Due to flooding
Iowa flood of 2008
The Iowa flood of 2008 was a hydrological event involving most of the rivers in eastern Iowa beginning around June 8, 2008 and ending about July 1. Flooding continued on the Upper Mississippi River in the southeastern portion of the state for several more days...
, it was moved to West Des Moines. Initially, there was uncertainty about its Olympic-qualifying status, as bacteria levels in nearby Blue Heron Lake left the swimming option in questionable status. However, officials confirmed that there would be swimming. As part of the Olympic qualifying Hunter Kemper
Hunter Kemper
Hunter Craig Kemper is a triathlete from the United States. He won the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games, behind Venezuela's Gilberto González, followed by the gold four years later in Santo Domingo....
and Sarah Haskins
Sarah Haskins (triathlete)
Sarah Haskins is an American triathlete from St. Louis, Missouri. She competed in triathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and is the 2011 Pan American Games Gold medalist.-Education:...
claimed the final United States Olympic spots as Rasmus Henning
Rasmus Henning
Rasmus Henning is an athlete from Denmark, who competes in triathlon. Henning competed at the second Olympic triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in which he placed seventh with a total time of 1:52:37.32. He competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics as well, placing eighth in the triathlon...
and three-time World Champion Emma Snowsill
Emma Snowsill
Emma Laura Snowsill OAM is an Australian professional triathlete and multiple gold medalist in the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games...
were the overall winners.
For 2011, the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announced that the Hy-Vee triathlon would serve as the site for its inaugural 5150 Series U.S. Championships. The race will have the largest prize purse in triathlon, with $1.1 million total being paid out and $151,500 going to the men and women’s winners.
Men's winners
| Year | Athlete | Country/State | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Rasmus Henning Rasmus Henning Rasmus Henning is an athlete from Denmark, who competes in triathlon. Henning competed at the second Olympic triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in which he placed seventh with a total time of 1:52:37.32. He competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics as well, placing eighth in the triathlon... |
1:50:04 | Des Moines Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857... |
Inaugural race | |
| 2008 | Rasmus Henning Rasmus Henning Rasmus Henning is an athlete from Denmark, who competes in triathlon. Henning competed at the second Olympic triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in which he placed seventh with a total time of 1:52:37.32. He competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics as well, placing eighth in the triathlon... |
1:54:21 | West Des Moines West Des Moines, Iowa West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in... |
2nd victory, course moved to West Des Moines due to flooding | |
| 2009 | Simon Whitfield Simon Whitfield Simon St. Quentin Whitfield is an Olympic triathlon champion from Canada.-Biography:Whitfield was born in Kingston, Ontario. As a young boy he played soccer but at age 11 began triathlon, honing his early competitive skills in the Canadian Kids of Steel program. By age 15 he was pursuing... |
1:49:43 | West Des Moines | Course record | |
| 2010 | Tim Don Tim Don Timothy Philip Don is a triathlete from the United Kingdom.-Career:Don competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He took tenth place with a total time of 1hr 49min 28.85sec. In the second Olympic triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics he was placed eighteenth with a... |
1:50:20 | West Des Moines | ||
| 2011 | Greg Bennett | 1:47:37 | Des Moines Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857... |
Women's winners
| Year | Athlete | Country/State | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Laura Bennett Laura Bennett (triathlete) Laura Marie Bennett is an American professional Triathlete. She placed fourth in the women’s triathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics... |
2:04:3 | Des Moines Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857... |
Inaugural race | |
| 2008 | Emma Snowsill Emma Snowsill Emma Laura Snowsill OAM is an Australian professional triathlete and multiple gold medalist in the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games... |
2:03:15 | West Des Moines West Des Moines, Iowa West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in... |
Course moved to West Des Moines due to flooding | |
| 2009 | Emma Moffatt Emma Moffatt Emma Moffatt is an Australian professional triathlete. She won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and won the gold at the ITU Triathlon World Championships in 2009 and 2010. She was born in Moree, New South Wales.... |
1:59:46 | West Des Moines | Course record | |
| 2010 | Emma Snowsill Emma Snowsill Emma Laura Snowsill OAM is an Australian professional triathlete and multiple gold medalist in the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games... |
1:59.34 | West Des Moines | 2nd victory, course record | |
| 2011 | Lisa Norden Lisa Nordén Lisa Nordén is a professional Swedish triathlete, 2008 Olympian, Swedish Champion of the year 2008, the U23 World Champion of the year 2007, the Sprint World Champion of the year 2010, vice World Champion of the year 2009, bronze medalist of the World Championship Series of the years 2008 and... |
1:59:12 | Des Moines Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857... |