The fields are set for the Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championship Elite Cup races on Sept. 4 in downtown Des Moines. The world's best 30 men and women will battle for their stake of the sport's largest-ever triathlon prize purse totaling $1.1 Million dollars. The battle will be for 1st place, where the top male and female elite triathletes will cash in on a $151,500 check.
Since it's inceptions, the Hy-Vee Triathlon has been the big money race in the sport of triathlon around the world. The Hy-Vee Triathlon is an Olympic-distance triathlon race held in Des Moines, Iowa. The first edition of the event, held June 17, 2007 and featured the largest prize in triathlon history, at $200,000 each for the men's and women's elite winners. Rasmus Henning and Laura Bennett where he inaugural big check winners. From 2008 through 2010 the Hy-Vee Triathlon served as an ITU Triathlon World Cup series race. Late in 2010 organizers joined up with the World Triathlon Corporation and the 5150 Series. The Hy-Vee triathlon was designated to serve as he 5150 Series U.S. Championships. The annual triathlon event attracts many of the top professional triathletes in the world due, in part, to having one of the largest prize purses awarded in the sport.
5150 Qualifying began in March 13 with the first 5150 event at the Miami International Triathlon. Top male and female athletes earned points over the spring and summer at 5150 qualifiers in St. Petersburg, Florida; New Orleans; Washington D.C.; Tunica, Mississippi; and Boulder, Colorado. The New York City Triathlon on August 7th was the final chance for pros to earn a slot in the Hy-Vee field and get a shot at the $151,500 winners' purses. In all, $1.1 million will be awarded in what continues to be triathlon's richest race.
Unlike most triathlon events and prize purses, every triathlete participating in the 5150 U.S. Championship Elite Cup race will walk away with prize money, as they are awarding money all the way down to 30th place, which is $3,000. Expect to see some fast action from the elites out on the course as a $5,150 bonus will be awarded to each person leading a lap, with a total of 10 laps for each of the men and women.
TRIJUICE has a triathlon poll going on to see who you think wins 1st place $151,500 prize? Men: twtpoll.com/to731c Women: twtpoll.com/8lqsm2. Let us know your picks by voting.
2011 Hy-Vee 5150 Elite Cup Prize Purse
| Men | Place |
Women |
|---|---|---|
| $151,500 | 1 |
$151,500 |
| $75,000 | 2 |
$75,000 |
| $50,000 | 3 |
$50,000 |
| $25,000 | 4 |
$25,000 |
| $20,000 | 5 |
$20,000 |
| $18,000 | 6 |
$18,000 |
| $16,000 | 7 |
$16,000 |
| $14,000 | 8 |
$14,000 |
| $12,000 | 9 |
$12,000 |
| $10,000 | 10 |
$10,000 |
| $9,500 | 11 |
$9,500 |
| $9,000 | 12 |
$9,000 |
| $8,500 | 13 |
$8,500 |
| $8,000 | 14 |
$8,000 |
| $7,500 | 15 |
$7,500 |
| $7,000 | 16 |
$7,000 |
| $6,500 | 17 |
$6,500 |
| $6,000 | 18 |
$6,000 |
| $5,500 | 19 |
$5,500 |
| $5,000 | 20 |
$5,000 |
| $4,800 | 21 |
$4,800 |
| $4,600 | 22 |
$4,600 |
| $4,400 | 23 |
$4,400 |
| $4,200 | 24 |
$4,200 |
| $4,000 | 25 |
$4,000 |
| $3,800 | 26 |
$3,800 |
| $3,600 | 27 |
$3,600 |
| $3,400 | 28 |
$3,400 |
| $3,200 | 29 |
$3,200 |
| $3,000 | 30 |
$3,000 |
| $503,000 | Total |
$503,000 |
$1,006,000 |
||
Lap Bonus |
Each / 10 Laps* |
Lap Bonus |
$5,150 |
$103,000 |
$5,150 |
TOTAL PRIZE PURSE |
||
>> $1,109,000 << |
* Both the Men and Women's races will feature the 5150 line. The first athlete to the line on each lap get the $5,150 bonus. 10 laps worth $5,150 each lap.
Great Britain's Stuart Hayes tops the men's qualifier list, while Nikki Butterfield of Australia leads the women's contingency. Emma Moffatt was forced to withdraw from Sunday's Hy-Vee 5150 Elite Cup race due to injury. Replacing her in field of 30 will be Nicola Spirig.
Organizers extended invitations to a handful of non-qualifiers. Two of the invites were accepted by reigning 2010 Ironman world champions Chris "Macca" McCormack and Mirinda Carfrae. Also accepting bids were the two winners of the inaugural Hy-Vee Elite Cup races in 2007: Denmark's Rasmus Henning and American Laura Bennett.
Triathletes from around the country and world will races in one of the scheduled events set to take place; the Hy-Vee 5150 Age Group U.S. Championships, the Hy-Vee Triathlon, and the Hy-Vee 5150 Elite Cup triathlon for the Men and Women and the Hy-Vee IRONKIDS U.S. Championship.
Live video streaming will be setup for the Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championship Elite Cup on Sunday, September 4th. Visit the event website www.hy-veetriathlon.com for further details.
- - Women's Elite Cup: Stream starts with the National Anthem, between 12:55 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. The stream will end at or around 3:30p.m. at the end of the women's race.
- - Men's Elite Cup: Stream will start again at 3:55 p.m. and will end at the conclusion of the men's race.
- - Awards Ceremony: Stream will start again at or around 6:40 p.m. with the start of the awards ceremony. The stream will end at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.
Related Post:
- Start List Set for Hy-Vee Triathlon 5150 Elite Cup Races
