Haskins finishes 11th in women’s triathlon competition
By Vahe Gregorian
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
BEIJING – Through the 1.5-kilometer (0.9 mile) swim and 40K (25-mile) bike ride of her first Olympic triathlon competition, Parkway South graduate Sarah Haskins was enveloped in the clumped lead pack of 15 and appeared in medal contention.
But at the Olympic triathlon venue, she faded to an 11th-place finish after being unable to pull away on the bike – her best hope of winning a medal because of the sterling field of runners and her biking strength.
“It was tough to get away; it was just such a massive group,” said Haskins, who had a dozen family members on hand to watch.
Her overall time of 2 hours 1 minute 23 seconds was 2:55 behind winner Emma Snowsill, an Australian who zoomed through the 10K (6.2-mile) run in 33:17 as Haskins ran it in 36.10 – 17th in the field.
Afterward, Haskins was disappointed but not devastated – as her mother, Becky, had predicted in the stands.
“You know, I can’t complain. It was my first Games,” said Haskins, 27. “Next time around in London, I definitely want to be at the top of the podium.”