Warriner 12th in Cancun World Cup

Reigning Pan Am Games gold medalist Julie Ertel of the United States has won her first career triathlon world cup today in Cancun, highlighting a gold-bronze finish for the Americans. France’s Carole Peon celebrated her birthday with a fantastic sprint finish to edge out Sarah Haskins for the silver and her first career world cup podium.

On a blustery morning in Cancun, 41 elite women ran into the warm waters of the Playa Langosta for the 1.5-kilometer non-wetsuit swim. The windy conditions coupled with the long shallows created tough swim conditions for the women and benefited the strong American swimmers. The first five women out the first transition were from the United States led by Jasmine Oeinck, silver medalist from this year’s Under23 world championships.

Out onto the flat 40-kilometer bike course, a lead group of ten women materialized. That pack included defending champion Anja Dittmer of Germany, Carole Peon of France, and a pair of Brits, Jodie Swallow and Kerry Lang. World number three Samantha Warriner (Whangarei) was relegated to the chase pack after a tough swim and struggled to make up time on the bike. After the second lap, the chase was already facing a 2-minute deficit that ballooned to more than four minutes when they headed into T2.

After a fast transition, Peon was the first to head out onto the 10-kilometer run course with Bennett close behind. After taking the initial lead, Bennett faded back in the second lap as Ertel surged ahead and never relinquished the lead. Ertel adds the Cancun title to her breakthrough year in which she also was crowned U.S. National Champion. In all the United States placed five in the top ten.


2007 Cancun BG Triathlon World Cup – Unofficial Women’s Results:

Gold – Julie Ertel (USA) 2:03:22

Silver – Carole Peon (FRA) 2:03:33

Bronze – Sarah Haskins (USA) 2:03:33

4 – Jodie Swallow (GBR) 2:03:37

5 – Laura Bennett (USA) 2:04:14

6 – Sarah Groff (USA) 2:04:18

7 – Anja Dittmer (GER) 2:04:41

8 – Kerry Lang (GBR) 2:04:42

9 – Jasmine Oeinck (USA) 2:07:18

10 – Juri Ide (JPN) 2:07:56

12 – Sam Warriner (NZL) 2:09:05