SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Sunday, June 7, more than 2,000 amateur and professional athletes took the plunge into the 60 degree water of San Francisco Bay to compete in the 35th Annual Escape from Alcatraz™ Triathlon. First time Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon competitors Eric Lagerstrom from Portland, Oregon and Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle took first place honors in the men and women’s pro division. Featuring a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore, an 18-mile bike ride and an eight-mile run through San Francisco, this race is considered one of the most difficult triathlons in the world.
Top Finishers:
| First Place: | Eric Lagerstrom, Portland, OR, 2:02:06 | |||||
| Ashleigh Gentle, Australia, 2:13:43 | ||||||
| Second Place: | Andy Potts, Colorado Springs, CO, 2:02:08 | |||||
| Lauren Goss, United States, 2:13:58 | ||||||
| Third Place: | Kevin Collington, Orlando, FL, 2:02:40 | |||||
| Mirinda Carfrae, Australia, 2:15:32 | ||||||
“I have been racing since I was 12-years-old and this race has always been a bucket list race for me,” said 25-year-old 2015 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Winner Eric Lagerstrom. “This is a dream come true to win the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon my first time competing. This course with the swim from Alcatraz Island and the deep sand run with sand steps was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Running down the finish line neck and neck with Six-Time Champion Andy Potts and the thousands of spectators cheering was so cool.”
For the first time in several years, the race finish was very close, with Lagerstrom pulling ahead of Potts just before the finish line and beating Potts by just two seconds. Racers representing more than 40 countries, from 16 to 77-years-old and a number of physically challenged athletes from Challenged Athletes Foundation participated in the triathlon. Celebrating the 35th anniversary of this iconic race, several past champions also raced today including Triathlon Legend Scott Tinley, Eight-Time Champion Michellie Jones, Peter Lewandowsky, Lester Waddel and more.
The Escape from Alcatraz™ Triathlon’s official sponsors include Muscle Milk, Cytomax, Babson College, blueseventy, Sierra Nevada, Vin Vault, Hornblower Cruises and Events and Tribike Transport. The Escape from Alcatraz™ Triathlon is owned and produced by IMG Worldwide with race direction provided in part by Premier Event Management. For more information and full race results, visit www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com.