The 2017 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships kicked off, with the University of Colorado’s Erica Hawley earning the win in the Women’s draft-legal race.
Hawley and Teresa Groton of West Point exited the water first, both posting 11:37 swim splits. Hawley pulled ahead through transition and ultimately held onto the lead for the entire race. The Colorado freshman covered the five-lap bike course solo, building a gap of about two minutes on her closest competitor heading into the second transition. On the run, she widened her lead even more with a 20:15 5k split, crossing the line in 1 hour, 9 minutes, 3 seconds.
Groton, who rode in the top four throughout the bike, made a move on the run to place second in 1:11:14. Allison Light of UCLA was third in 1:11:27.
“It was my first year racing, so I wasn’t too sure what it would be like,” Hawley said. “I felt good on the swim and took the first half lap of the bike pretty steady. Then when they weren’t catching, I thought I may as well go for it. On the run I felt pretty good and I knew I was in the lead, so I just tried to keep my pace knowing that I’m racing tomorrow too.”
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