U23 STARS LEAD AMERICANS IN HUNGARY : trifuel.com

U23 STARS LEAD AMERICANS IN HUNGARY

TISZAUJVAROS, Hungary - USA Triathlon U23 national champion Sara McLarty led the American women at the 2006 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup with a 16th place finish in a time of 1:58:21, while the reigning men's U23 champion Manny Huerta had the top U.S. finish in the men's race with a solid 20th place (1:45:43).

McLarty braved the high waters and strong currents in a non-wetsuit swim, beating everyone out of the water and leading eventual winner Joelle Franzmann (GER) by five seconds heading into T1.

On the bike course, McLarty and Franzmann opened a 40 second gap on the rest of the field, but were losing time by the beginning of the second lap. McLarty decided to go alone while Franzmann dropped back and waited for the chase pack. The pack reeled in McLarty, but she stayed on the back of the pack and together, they extended their lead over the rest of the field by two minutes.

On the run course Franzmann quickly regained the lead with Mariana Ohata of Brazil going with her. The two ran together for the majority of the race. With one kilometer to go, Franzmann made her move and Ohata was unable to respond. Franzmann captured the victory in 1:55:40 while Ohata finished second with a time of 1:55:55. Leanda Cave (GBR) managed to beat-out France's Carole Peon to take the final podium spot (1:56:00).

American Julianna Batizy-Morley finished in 46th place with a time of 2:08:36, while Michelle Lindsay was forced to drop out on the bike leg and did not finish.

2006 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup results - Elite Women

1. FRANZMANN, Joelle (GER) 1:55:41
2. OHATA, Mariana (BRA) 1:55:55
3. CAVE, Leanda (GBR) 1:56:00
4. PEON, Carole (FRA) 1:56:07
5. DOLLINGER, Eva (AUT) 1:56:23
6. TANNER, Debbie (NZL) 1:56:54
7. CIERPIK, Camille (FRA) 1:57:02
8. DENSHAM, Erin (AUS) 1:57:41
9. RYF, Daniela (SUI) 1:57:46
10. MURUA, Ainhoa (ESP) 1:57:55

Americans:
16. MCLARTY, Sara (USA) 1:58:21
46. BATIZY-MORLEY, Julianna (USA) 2:08:36
DNF LINDSAY, Michelle (USA)

For complete results, click here.

On the men's side, seven elite men saw action in Hungary, with Huerta leading the charge.

Matt Seymour, who has been fighting an IT band injury, placed 31st in a time of 1:46:54 while Tim O'Donnell finished in a time of 1:47:13, good enough for 35th place. Dave Messenheimer placed 43rd (1:47:35), while reigning U23 World Champion Jarrod Shoemaker placed 53rd in a time of 1:48:20. Haven Barnes finished in 56th (1:49:07), twenty seconds ahead of Victor Plata, who placed 59th in a time of 1:49:27.

Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia took top podium honors (1:44:07) with his fourth World Cup victory this year. Kahlefeldt out-sprinted Jan Frodeno (GER), who finished second in a time of 1:44:11. Dmitriy Gaag of Kazakhstan, who lives and trains in Tiszaujvaros, edged out Hedrik De Villiers of Russia for the last podium spot.

Stronger than normal currents and high waters in the Tisza River made for a challenging swim. After the swim, three bike packs formed, and by the 30 kilometer mark had formed into one 45-man pack. Three athletes entered the run with a 40-second lead, but were quickly caught by the top-four finishers.

Kahlefeldt's victory moves him into the number one spot in the World Rankings, just ahead of Hunter Kemper (2) and Andy Potts (3) of the U.S. All three will be competing in the World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland on September 3.

2006 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup results - Elite Men

1. KAHLEFELDT, Brad (AUS) 1:44:07
2. FRODENO, Jan (GER) 1:44:11
3. GAAG, Dmitriy (KAZ) 1:44:20
4. DE VILLIERS, Hendrik (RSA) 1:44:20
5. DEHMER, Sebastian (GER) 1:44:40
6. TURBAYIVSKYY, Volodymyr (UKR) 1:44:44
7. JASKOLKA, Marek (POL) 1:44:48
8. JUSTUS, Steffen (GER) 1:44:55
9. SYSOEV, Igor (RUS) 1:44:58
10. QUIRK, Bryce (AUS) 1:45:03

Americans:
20. HUERTA, Manuel (USA) 1:45:43
31. SEYMOUR, Matthew (USA) 1:46:54
35. O'DONNELL, Timothy (USA) 1:47:13
43. MESSENHEIMER, Dave (USA) 1:47:35
53. SHOEMAKER, Jarrod (USA) 1:48:20
56. BARNES, Haven (USA) 1:49:07
59. PLATA, Victor (USA) 1:49:27

For complete results, click here.

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 1,800 races and connects with more than 70,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world.

Please visit USA Triathlon's web site at www.usatriathlon.org.