Hy-Vee Triathlon

The Hy-Vee Triathlon (now known as the Des Moines Triathlon) was an Olympic-distance triathlon race held in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. From 2011–2014, the race served as the World Triathlon Corporation's 5150 Series U.S. Championships.[1] Previously, it was part of the ITU Triathlon World Cup series from 2008 to 2010.[2] The annual triathlon event attracted many of the top professional triathletes in the world due, in part, to having the largest prize purse awarded for Olympic-distance races in the sport[3] (and from 2008–12, the largest in the sport overall[4][5]). 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 through organizer and presenting sponsor Hy-Vee, a regional grocer. Approximately 10,000 spectators came downtown to the event, which was held in downtown Des Moines, swimming at Gray's Lake and finishing at the Iowa State Capitol.

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.

In 2011, the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announced that the Hy-Vee triathlon would serve as the site for its 5150 Series U.S. Championships. The race will have the largest prize purse in triathlon, with $1 million total being paid out and $151,500 going to the men and women’s winners.[8] The race was moved from June to Labor Day weekend and returned downtown after three years in West Des Moines.

In 2013, Hy-Vee announced that it was reducing the total purse from $1.1 million to $500,000. The men's and women's winners received $100,000 each with $20,000 going to 2nd place and $15,000 to third.[9]

Hy-Vee opted to discontinue the event following the 2014 edition.[10]

Premier Event Management, who formerly produced the Hy-Vee Triathlon, kept the event going as The Des Moines Triathlon in 2015-2016.[11]

Beginning in 2017, IMG and Premier Event Management, announced that the Des Moines Triathlon is now a part of the Escape Series.[12]

Results

Men's winners

Year	Athlete	Country/State	Time	Location	Notes
2007	Rasmus Henning	Denmark	1:50:04	Des Moines	Inaugural race
2008	Rasmus Henning (2)	Denmark	1:54:21	West Des Moines	race moved to West Des Moines due to flooding
2009	Simon Whitfield	Canada	1:49:43	West Des Moines	Course record
2010	Tim Don	United Kingdom	1:50:20	West Des Moines
2011	Greg Bennett	Australia	1:47:37	Des Moines
2012[13]	Javier Gómez	Spain	1:51:21	Des Moines	Swim course moved to Gray's Lake due to low river water levels
2013	Javier Gómez (2)	Spain	1:45:57	Des Moines	Entire course at Gray's Lake
2014	Hunter Kemper	United States	1:44:43	Des Moines
2015[14]	Cam Dye	United States	1:47:48	Des Moines	Inaugural Des Moines Triathlon
2016[15]	Matthew Hanson	United States	1:50:35	Des Moines	2nd Annual Des Moines Triathlon

Women's winners

Year	Athlete	Nation	Time	Location	Notes
2007	Laura Bennett	United States	2:04:30	Des Moines	Inaugural race
2008	Emma Snowsill	Australia	2:03:15	West Des Moines	Course moved to West Des Moines due to flooding
2009	Emma Moffatt	Australia	1:59:46	West Des Moines	Course record
2010	Emma Snowsill (2)	Australia	1:59.34	West Des Moines	Course record
2011	Lisa Nordén	Sweden	1:59:12	Des Moines
2012[13]	Lisa Nordén (2)	Sweden	2:01:59	Des Moines	Swim course moved to Gray's Lake due to low river water levels
2013	Emma Moffatt (2)	Australia	1:57:04	Des Moines	Entire course held at Gray's Lake
2014	Helle Frederiksen	Denmark	1:54:44	Des Moines
2015	Sarah Haskins	United States	2:00:28	Des Moines	Inaugural Des Moines Triathlon
2016	Abby Levene	United States	2:05:24	Des Moines	2nd Annual Des Moines Triathlon

References

1. "WTC Announces Qualification and Prize Distribution Details for 5150 U.S. Championship". Ironman.com. November 20, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
2. "ITU Event Search". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
3. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130825/SPORTS/308260031/Hy-Vee-Triathlon-Here-s-five-things-to-watch-this-year?Frontpage
4. "Triathlon's Biggest Prize Is in ... Iowa?". Wall Street Journal. August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
5. Hichens, Liz (6 November 2009). "2010 ITU Triathlon World Cup Calendar Announced". Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
6. Branch, John (14 June 2008). "Flood Puts Triathlon Qualifier in Doubt". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
7. "As Iowa floods recede, final triathlon qualifier still planned". ESPN.com. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
8. Mavis, Bethany (11 August 2011). "Pros Qualify For Hy-Vee 5150 Champs, Macca Accepts Invite". Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
9. http://triathlon.competitor.com/2013/04/news/hy-vee-elite-cup-halves-pro-prize-purse_73173
10. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2015/02/10/hy-vee-triathlon-racing-des-moines/23183423/
11. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2015/09/06/dye-haskins-dominate-des-moines-triathlon/71814116/
12. http://www.escapeseriestri.com/posts/448/img-to-launch-escape-series
13. "2012 Hy-Vee triathlon Results". Hy-Vee Triathlon. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
14. http://triathlon.competitor.com/2015/09/news/cam-dye-sarah-haskins-win-des-moines-triathlon_121746
15. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2016/09/04/hanson-levene-claim-des-moines-triathlon-titles/89864828/

Website

• Des Moines Escape Tri