Courtesy: USAT

U.S. elite triathlete Greg Remaly and Australian Olympian Loretta Harrop did it their way to win the USA Triathlon Race to Athens - New York on Sunday in New York City. The race was also an International Triathlon Union (ITU) Continental Cup race.

Remaly (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) led a U.S. sweep of the men's race, winning in 1:47:28. U.S. 2004 Olympic nominee Victor Plata (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) was second in 1:47:49 and Joe Umphenour (Bellevue, Wash.) was third in 1:48:08.

The women's podium was more international as Harrop, an Australian Olympic Team member in 2000 and 2004, won in 1:55:51. Carolyn Murray of Canada was second in 1:59:08 and hometown favorite Rebeccah Wassner of New York was third in 2:00:41.

The swim in the Hudson River turned out to be extra fast in both races thanks to a current that picked up speed as the morning went on.

Harrop chose not to wear a wetsuit in the women's race - the water temperature was measured at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C) - and came out of the water second to U.S. elite Malaika Homo (Clermont, Fla.). However Harrop made a big break on the bike, riding by herself much of the way. She also had the fastest run of the day at 35:44.

By the men's race, the air temperature was heating up. Remaly was eighth out of the water behind Australia's Levi Maxwell, Plata and Umphenour among others, and joined the lead pack for the one-lap bike course on the Hudson Parkway. Eventually, the chase group caught the leaders and a pack of 17 was formed. As the group headed back toward transition, Remaly made his break and built a two-and-a-half-minute lead.

However holding on to the lead wasn't easy in the hot sun, and Remaly saw his lead cut to 21 seconds by the time he reached the finish line.

"I was really tired heading into the run," he said. "I just held on as well as I could."

Plata, who trains with Remaly and also competes with him on a professional triathlon team, was happy to finish second.

"I've never been so happy to finish second. Greg is my friend and training partner," Plata said. "To be honest, I really wasn't pushing it (on the run)."

It was Remaly's first victory in an ITU race.

The race was also a breakthrough of sorts for Umphenour, who last medaled in an ITU race in 2002 and has struggled with injuries this year.

"I cramped up on the third lap and Victor pulled away," Umphenour said. "The whole time, I was just trying to catch Greg."

Among the other top men, Australian Chris Hill dropped out of the race due to cramps and Doug Friman did not finish due to a flat tire.

The elite race was held in conjunction with the Ford New York City Triathlon, an age group race held earlier in the day.

Complete results are available at www.nyctri.com.

TRIATHLON ON TV NOTE: U.S. Olympic Team nominee Sheila Taormina was bumped off ABC's Good Morning America on Friday. She is now scheduled to appear in the first hour of the program on Monday, June 28.