Richard Murray continued his return to racing with a close win after having heart surgery last year, while American Kirsten Kasper was also won a footrace to the line at today’s Americas Triathlon Cup Sarasota-Bradenton. Today’s event featured a super-sprint format after the races had to be cancelled due to tornado warnings and bad weather on Saturday.
In the women’s race a large group exited the water after the 350 m swim in just over five minutes, and stayed together through the 12.5 km bike, setting up a sprint to the line over the final 2.5 km run. Kasper got there first in 32:47, ahead of Canada’s Emy Legault (32:50) and the Netherlands’ Rachel Klamer. Klamer’s young countrywoman Barbara de Koning couldn’t match the pace and ended fourth in 33:04.
Women’s results are here.
Murray will be competing for the Netherlands in the future, so is racing under the World Triathlon banner for now. Last year he was forced to undergo heart surgery, but made a miraculous comeback and was gearing up to race at the Olympics. (He chose to focus on the mixed relay, only to see the South African team drop out when Henri Schoeman was injured.) Today Murray was part of a big group that was chasing Great Britain’s Daniel Dixon out of the water, with a big group forming quickly on the bike. On the run Murray (29:14) managed to outsprint American Kevin McDowell (29:15) for the win, with Dixon rounding out the podium (29:23).
Men’s results are here.
