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 to 2014, the race served as the World Triathlon Corporation's 5150 Series U.S. Championships. Previously, it was part of the ITU Triathlon World Cup series from 2008 to 2010. 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 (and from 2008 to 2012, the largest in the sport overall). 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. 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. 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. 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.
Hy-Vee opted to discontinue the event following the 2014 edition.
Premier Event Management, who formerly produced the Hy-Vee Triathlon, kept the event going as The Des Moines Triathlon in 2015–2016.
Beginning in 2017, IMG and Premier Event Management, announced that the Des Moines Triathlon is now a part of the Escape Series.
Results
Men's winners
| Year | Athlete | Country | 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 | 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 | Cam Dye | United States |
1:47:48 | Des Moines | Inaugural Des Moines Triathlon |
| 2016 | Matthew Hanson | United States |
1:50:35 | Des Moines | 2nd Annual Des Moines Triathlon |
Women's winners
| Year | Athlete | Country | 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 | 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
- "WTC Announces Qualification and Prize Distribution Details for 5150 U.S. Championship". Ironman.com. November 20, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- "ITU Event Search". International Triathlon Union. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- "Hy-Vee Triathlon: Here's five things to watch this yeary". Archived from the original on 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
- "Triathlon's Biggest Prize Is in ... Iowa?". Wall Street Journal. August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- Hichens, Liz (6 November 2009). "2010 ITU Triathlon World Cup Calendar Announced". Competitor Group, Inc. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- Branch, John (14 June 2008). "Flood Puts Triathlon Qualifier in Doubt". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "As Iowa floods recede, final triathlon qualifier still planned". ESPN.com. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- Mavis, Bethany (11 August 2011). "Pros Qualify For Hy-Vee 5150 Champs, Macca Accepts Invite". Competitor Group, Inc. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "Hy-Vee Elite Cup Halves Pro Prize Purse". Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- "Hy-Vee ends triathlon; another company to keep it running". The Des Moines Register.
- "Dye, Haskins dominate at des Moines Triathlon". The Des Moines Register.
- "IMG Launches Escape Triathlon Series". Archived from the original on 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ "2012 Hy-Vee triathlon Results". Hy-Vee Triathlon. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- "Cam Dye, Sarah Haskins Win des Moines Triathlon". Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
- "Hanson, Levene claim des Moines Triathlon titles". The Des Moines Register.
Website
- Des Moines Escape Tri Archived 2017-01-13 at the Wayback Machine