Courtesy: USAT

The championship of the Haul of the Great Wall Series is on the line as USA Triathlon wraps up the second year of this elite series at the Westchester Triathlon in Rye, N.Y. on Sunday, September 17.

Several of the 68 registered athletes are still in the running for the overall title, which required participation in at least three of the events. That title will not only bring bragging rights, but a cash prize of $5,000 each to the men(1)s and women's champions. In addition, Speedo is providing a $15,000 end-of-the-series bonus to be split if U.S. athletes finish first or second in the Series. First place will receive $5,000 and second place will take home $2,500 in both the men(1)s and women(1)s categories.

On the men(1)s side, the battle for first should be between Jarrod Shoemaker and Manny Huerta, who come into the race leading the series with 30 points apiece. Brian Fleischmann is still in the hunt with 16 points.

For the women, it(1)s a tight race between U23 National Team members Sara McLarty (40 points) and Jasmine Oeinck (31 points). Rebeccah Wassner (21 points), Sarah Groff (20 points), Julie Swail (17 points), and Margaret Shapiro (17 points) could also finish in the money.

Though not in the hunt for the series title, athletes like Matt Reed, Doug Friman, Matt Seymour, David Thompson, Derek Kite, Dave Messenheimer, Sarah Haskins, Lesley Meade, Michelle Lindsay, and Justine Whipple will battle for an individual race prize purse of $30,000 ($15,000 each for the men(1)s and women(1)s elite races).

Prizes will be awarded 10 deep for both races. Moreover, Speedo is providing $5,000 in bonus money for each race on the five-city tour. American men and women who finish in the top-three in their respective races are eligible for the bonuses, with $1,500 going to the top finisher, $750 to second, and $250 to third.

The 2006 Haul to the Great Wall Series kicked off with the Honolulu Triathlon in May and continued with The Beach Tri in Long Beach, Calif., in June, and the Mossman Park City Triathlon in Connecticut in August. Last week(1)s fourth event The Boston Triathlon was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The series of intermediate distance triathlons now in its second year allows triathletes and spectators to get their first look at who might be competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Each race is sanctioned by USAT and also the International Triathlon Union (ITU). The ITU world rankings system is used as part of the qualification process for the Olympic Games.

More information on the 2006 Haul to the Great Wall Series, including series point standings, can be found at http://www.usatriathlon.org/HaulToGreatWall.htm.