Frodeno, 32, is no stranger to winning, having come in sixth place in the 2012 London Olympics and winning a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “I was nervous about coming here, especially when it came to the run because that’s not my strong card,” Frodeno of Germany said. “The other guys kept the pressure on.”
Keeping Frodeno on his toes was Ivan Vasiliev of Russia, who came in second place, and Hunter Kemper of Colorado Springs, Colo., who placed third.
Kaye, 30, said that she felt strong throughout the day, but the women also kept the pressure on and she never had a huge lead. “The gap did not change much throughout the race,” Kaye of Clermont, Fla., said. “I can’t describe how it feels; it’s so emotional to win this race.”
Following Kaye were Nicky Samuels of New Zealand in second and Emma Moffatt of Australia in third, who was running her first St. Anthony’s Triathlon and her first 5150.
Also participating in his first Olympic-distance triathlon was former Pittsburgh Steelers player and spring 2011 Dancing With The Stars champion Hines Ward.
With the race being less than two weeks after the bombings in Boston, those events were not far from the athletes mind.
“We’re all part of an endurance family,” said Kemper. “Events like Boston shouldn’t stop anyone from going out and living their dream. We’re here today as a celebration of sport and lifestyle.” Kaye raced with the words, “Boston Strong” marked on her leg in honor of her mother-in-law who has completed 25 Boston Marathons.
A windy morning resulted in the swim course being altered for amateur athletes to ensure the safety of swimmers.
“I thought the water would be a lot calmer,” said Samuels, one of the pros who swam the full course. “I got a little confused out there, but I loved it because I love waves.”
The first event of the 2013 global 5150 Triathlon Series, St. Anthony’s is an international-distance race (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run) offering athletes coveted points toward 5150 U.S. Championship qualification. It is the largest international distance triathlon series in the world and the first non-drafting international race series of its kind, offering a competitive platform for professional and age-group athletes.
Known for its scenic course along the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, St. Anthony’s
Triathlon attracts hosted a field of approximately 3,500 individuals and 125 relay teams from 44 states and 23 countries. The race weekend includes an extensive event expo and the Meek & Mighty Triathlon, a shorter-distance race for youth ages 7-14 and novice adults. Athletes compete for the professional prize purse in addition to $10,000 in prizes for the top male and female competitors in the Elite Amateur division. Look for news about St. Anthony’s Triathlon at www.SATriathlon.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/StAnthonysTriathlon.