Potts, Swail Sweep Triathlon Golds for U.S. at 2007 Pan American Games

It was an American sweep of the gold medals as Julie Swail and Andy Potts won Pan American Games triathlon titles in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday, July 15 2007. Swail, the 2007 USA Triathlon Elite National Champion, won in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 23 seconds. Sarah Haskins won the silver medal in the women's race, and Lauren Groves of Canada was third. The event doubled as the 2007 ITU Pan American Continental Championships. It was the second American gold at the Pan Ams for the women since the sport was added in 1995. The women also now has five total medals in Pan Ams competition. Swail competed at the event in 2003, finishing eighth.

From the starter's horn the two Americans immediately broke away from the rest of the group, with teammate Sara McLarty (DeLand, Fla., / Colorado Springs, Colo.), opening a 15 second lead by the end of the 1,500 meter swim course. The American trio would use their strong swim-bike skills to utilize this lead, growing it to over two and a half minutes by the end of the bike.

The sizable chase group contained many of the sport's top runners including Groves, fellow Canadian Kathy Tremblay, Brazilian Mariana Ohata, Adriana Corona of Mexico, Flora Duffy of Bermuda, among others. This group had their sights set on the three leaders and a podium finish. Swail and Haskins did not falter though and ran together until the last kilometer when the American national champion Swail pulled away, running to the first major international win of her career.

Over the first two laps the chasers would reel in swim- bike specialist McLarty but were unable to narrow the gap to the other two Americans. With one lap to go, Groves would break ahead of the rest of the chasers. With no response from any of the other women, she was free to cruise to the bronze medal.

Crossing the line in fourth was reining continental champion Tremblay, with young Mexican Corona in fifth. McLarty finished in tenth.

2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro - Elite Women Results

1. SWAIL, Julie (USA) 1:57:23
2. HASKINS, Sarah (USA)
3. GROVES, Lauren (CAN)
4. TREMBLAY, Kathy (CAN)
5. CORONA, Adriana (MEX)
6. OHATA, Mariana (BRA)

Conmplete Results - Women

Gold for Potts

Andy Potts (Princeton, N.J. / Colorado Springs, Colo.), the 2007 USA Triathlon Elite National Champion, led for most of the men's race, crossing the line in a time of 1 hour 52 minutes and 31 seconds, seven seconds faster than silver medalist Brent McMahon of Canada. To the cheers of thousands of locals lining the course, Brazilian Juraci Moreira finished in third, a further 16 seconds back. The Pan American Games triathlon also doubled as the ITU Continental championships for 2007.

The 30-year-old Potts immediately moved to the front of the 37 men early into the opening swim. A long course and rough conditions would help the ex- collegiate swimmer open a 20 second lead into the transition area and out on the bike course.

A chase group of 19 athletes quickly formed behind Potts and began the task of reeling in the strongman. This chase group worked well with all top contenders, including McMahon, Moreira, Kyle Jones and Paul Tichelaar of Canada, Jarrod Shoemaker (Sudbury, Mass.) among others, in the group. They would catch Potts on the second of eight laps.

Not content to sit and wait for things to be decided on the run, McMahon, Tichelaar, Leonardo Saucedo of Mexico and Javier Cuevas of Domincan Republic formed a small but effective break away in the late stages of the bike, managing to open a 50 second gap heading out on the 10-kilometer, flat and fast run.

The small breakaway's effort was taxing however, and their lead would not last as first Potts and then others would catch them. Only McMahon would hang on for a podium position, continuing the streak of a Canadian medal at every Pan American Games triathlon since its induction in 1995.

Another Canadian Kyle Jones would run his way to fourth as Leonardo Chacon of Costa Rica finished in just behind in fifth. The final American, Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla. / Colorado Springs, Colo.), grabbed eighth, just over one minute back. It is the second Pan Ams gold -- and third medal overall -- for the U.S. men since 1995.

2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro - Elite Men Results

1. POTTS, Andy (USA) 1:52:31
2. MCMAHON, Brent (CAN) 1:52:38 +:07
3. MOREIRA, Juraci (BRA) 1:52:54 +:23
4. JONES, Kyle (CAN) 1:53:06 +:33
5. CHACON, Leonardo (CRC) 1:53:13 +:42
6. SHOEMAKER, Jarrod (USA) 1:53:32 +1:01
7. GONZALEZ, Michel (CUB) 1:53:34 +1:03
8. FLEISCHMANN, Brian (USA) 1:53:37 +1:06
9. GARZA, Arturo (MEX) 1:53:43 +1:12
10. ARIAS, Jorge (COL) 1:53:53 +1:22

Complete Results - Men

About USA Triathlon: USA Triathlon is the sanctioning authority for more than 2,000 diverse events ranging from grass-roots to high profile races in the USA. USA Triathlon’s membership is comprised of athletes of all ages, coaches, officials, parents and fans striving together to strengthen multi-sport. USA Triathlon is responsible for the selection and training of teams to represent the United States in international competition, including the world championships, Pan Am Games and Olympic Games. For more information, please go to USATriathlon.org.