Paratriathletes win three medals, Young Canucks sweep junior women’s podium, Brock Hoel wins U23 silver
MIAMI, Fla.—Canada’s triathletes racked up seven medals on Friday at the Americas Triathlon Cup races in Miami, Florida.
All three of Canada’s elite Paratriathletes found their way onto the podium, winning two golds, and one silver medal.
Calgary’s Stefan Daniel got his season off to a golden start in the men’s standing classification. The 27-year-old, two-time Paralympic medallist stomped the international field, posting the best time of the day at 53:39 in the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run course.
“Good opening race here. I wasn’t expecting to get first going into this race. Being early in the season, I was trying to start things off a bit slower to peak in Paris at the end of the year,” said Daniel. “It was really good though to start it off with a win and get the confidence going early in the season.”
American Chris Hammer was second at 54:34, while Brazil’s Ronan Cordeiro crossed the finish line in third place with a time of 55:00.
Winnipeg’s Leanne Taylor took top spot in the women’s sit race category. Taylor stopped the clock at 1:00:07.
“To put it all together today and come out with the win is really huge. We are so excited to see it all come together,” said the 31-year-old Taylor. “The goal was really just to execute a clean race. I felt I was able to bring it all together the way I was capable of. It was the cherry on top to be able to bring home the win as well.”
Taylor, who began Paratriathlon in 2019 one year after a she was left paralyzed from the waist down following a mountain bike accident, is determined to make her first Paralympic Team in 2024.
“It is so exciting to be in this position where I’m feeling strong and still have so much time left to build and be even stronger. It’s a great start and we are really excited for what’s to come,” beamed Taylor.
Brazil’s Jessica Ferreira finished second in the classification with a time of 1:01:50. Emelia Perry, of the United States, completed the course in a time of 1:02:06 for third place.
Kamylle Frenette (Dieppe, N.B.) got her season off to a silver-medal start in the women’s standing category. The Canadian clocked-in at 1:02:40.
“It was a good race to just shake the rust off and get the season started,” said Frenette. “Things went well and getting a medal is a great way to start the season.”
Frenette was sandwiched on the podium between two Americans. Grace Norman topped the Canadian with a golden time of 1:00:18. Michelle Dynes placed third at 1:10:55.
Canadian Juniors Sweep Women’s Podium
It was the nation’s next generation of triathlon stars who blazed the Canadian trail to the podium in Miami.
British Columbia’s Sidney Clement struck gold in the Americas Triathlon Junior Championships, clocking a time of 56:33 in the women’s event. Beatrice Filion (Candiac, Que.) finished 12 seconds back at 56:45 where she edged out fellow Quebecer, Beatrice Normand (Coteau du Lac, Que.), for the silver medal. Normand stopped the clock at 56:46.
Quebec’s Leandre Binette was the top Canadian in the junior men’s race. Binette posted a time off 51:32 for seventh. Regina’s Henry Bristol was eighth at 51:44.
Brock Hoel Leads a Trio of Canadians into Top-10 in Elite Races
Two athletes who wore the maple leaf at the 2023 Pan Am Games – Brock Hoel and Martin Sobey – were the top-two Canadians in the men’s Americas Triathlon Championships elite race.
Hoel, a 22-year-old from West Kelowna, B.C., finished one spot off the podium in fourth place with a time of 1:44:45. Hoel was the second fastest U23 athlete in the field, securing him a silver medal of his own.
Martin Sobey, of Charlottetown, finished two positions back on the final results page, completing the Olympic distance course in a time of 1:45:03.
The American men swept the podium. Morgan Pearson was the top man at 1:43:39. Darr Smith was second at 1:43:54, while John Reed was the best U23 athlete, and third best overall, at 1:44:11.
Sophia Howell was the top Canuck in the women’s elite race. One week removed from her 22nd birthday, the Airdrie, Alta. triathlete battled to 10th spot at 2:00:34.
Elizabeth Bravo, of Ecuador, was rock solid through the Olympic distance race where she crossed the line first at 1:57:37. Two Mexican athletes snagged the final two spots on the women’s elite podium. Luisa Daniela Baca Vargas was second at 1:57:51, while Sofia Rodriguez Moreno rounded out the podium in third at 1:58:01.
Maïra Carreau, of La Prairie, Que., was the only other Canadian woman in the top-15, placing 11th in the season-opener at 2:00:56.
Americas Paratriathlon Championships Results:
Complete Americas Triathlon Championships Results:
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Triathlon Canada
E-mail: chris.dornan@triathloncanada.com
