The World's Largest Triathlon is in Chicago and is part of the Race to the Toyota Cup series.  This weekend, young Aussie Stephen Hackett will take the start line against some of the best short coursers in the world including Matty Reed and David Thompson.   Hackett is fresh off one of his best performances ever at the Ironman Boulder 70.3 triathlon a few weeks ago. 

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The Pearl Izumi team's Leon Griffin returned to action this past weekend in the Philippines after being sidelined with injury the past 3 months.  The Cobra Ironman Philippines 70.3, which takes place in the Camarines Sur area of the beautiful Southeast Asian country, once again attracted a strong mens field including returning champion Terenzo Bozzone, Kiwi Cameron Brown and Pete Jacobs.  Leon posted the fastest bike split of the day and was with the leaders until about 10k to go where he eventually faded to 4th place.  Griffin is prepping for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships this season.  You can find more info on Leon at www.leongriffin.com

 The current 70.3 World Champion Julie Dibens had a typical day at the Boulder Ironman 70.3, winning in dominating fashion from start to finish.   The Brit who now resides in Boulder had been laying down hard training days at a “Kona recon training camp” preparing for her first Ironman World Championships in October.  Recovery was in question leading into the 70.3 event but clearly Dibens is adapting to her long course preparation and “feeling really really strong” according to her post race commentary.  In 2010, Julie has won the inaugural Abu Dhabi triathlon, Wildflower, Rev3 Knoxville, the Ironman Boise and Boulder 70.3 events.   
 

Laura Bennett US Points Leader in WCS;  Hackett on Podium at Ironman Boulder 70.3

American Laura Bennett has had a storied career in professional triathlon with victories at the prestigious Hy-Vee Triathlon, several world cup titles, an Ironman 70.3 victory (her only 70.3 race ever), and of course the top US result in the Beijing Olympics with a 4^th place showing.  Recently, Bennett has been on fire placing in the top 8 in her last 3 World Cup Series (WCS) races in Hamburg, London, and most recently in Kitzbuhel, Austria - where she has now moved up to become the US points leader sitting in 11^th place overall.  

Young Australian Stephen Hackett continues to impress the professional ranks with his latest race at the Ironman Boulder 70.3, where he led off the bike and ended up holding on for 3^rd place overall.   Hackett, who was second out of the water behind the All-American swimmer and former 70.3 World Champion Andy Potts, stormed the bike course and was first into T2 before eventually being caught by Potts and Miles Stuart.

 
  Laura Bennett brings it home ITU style                     Steve Hackett leads bike course at the Boulder Ironman 70.3