Johns Hopkins senior Katie Rownd finished 33rd overall with a time of 2:17.10 at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in London earlier this month, making her the 8th-fastest American in the 20-24 women’s age group.
Rownd, who runs cross country and track and is also on the swim team at Johns Hopkins, was one of the fastest swimmers on the course, posting a 10:37 on the swimming portion. This Olympic distance age group championship (separate from the elite championship, which was a part of the same festival, and the U23 World Championship, and the Junior World Championships) featured a 750 meter swim, a 40 kilometer bike, and a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) run.
Edit: Rownd has clarified that the age group championship was a modified distance: the bike and run were Olympic distance, but due to the water temperatures, the swim was cut in half to 750 meters.
Rownd wasn’t the only collegiate swimmer in triathlon’s biggest annual spectacle. LSU freshman Devon Dabney finished 33rd as well in the Junior class (750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike, 5 kilometer run). She was through the swim even faster, marking a 9:25 that put her in the lead pack coming out of the first leg. The ultimate winner would be American Tamara Gorman, who is a senior in the class of 2014 that seems to have some interest in swimming collegiately, but will probably continue to be primarily a triathlete.
The junior race was sprint distance while the age group race was Olympic distance wih the swim shortened to 750 m due to water temperature
Thanks Katie for clearing that up! Couldn’t make sense of the results, and nobody from the ITU would respond to my email.
Noted above.
According to this article, the swim was only 750 meters: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/rapid-city-s-tamara-gorman-wins-triathlon-world-championship/article_ba13d2ca-9f66-559a-9d66-d891112393b1.html
You are correct, it was a sprint not Olympic distance race. The official results were a little misleading.
The article attached did mention the swim being 750 meters. Let’s congratulate these girls for qualifying for this prestigious event !
The article did mention the swim being 750 meters. Let’s congratulate these girls for qualifying for this prestigious event !
9:25 for 1500 meters?
Somebody should either get the ITU a better timing system, or a better measurement tool. These swim times are ridiculous.
Maybe there was an amazing current…