Courtesy: USAT

U.S. elite triathletes Susan Bartholomew Williams, Becky Gibbs and Jennifer Gutierrez (pictured -- from the ITU Sydney Tri) swept the podium Saturday at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) points race in Ixtapa, Mexico.

Julie Pittsinger (Wenatchee, Wash.) of the U.S. placed fourth. Williams (Denver, Colo.), ranked 47th in the world, won the Olympic distance (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run) race in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 47 seconds. Gibbs (Minnetonka, Minn.), No. 15 in the world, was second at 2:09:22 and Gutierrez (Greenwood Village, Colo.), No. 23, was third in 2:10:20.

Mark Fretta (Portland, Ore.) led the U.S. men in 10th place, finishing in 2:01:22. Eligio Cervantes of Mexico won the men's race in 1:56:32.

Ixtapa International Triathlon
Sept. 29, 2001; Ixtapa, Mexico
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
Men
1. Eligio Cervantes (Mexico) 1:56:32; 2. Jose Luis Zepeda (Mexico) 1:57:43; 3. Uzziel Valderrabano (Mexico) 1:58:40; 4. Bruno Arochi (Mexico) 1:58:45; 5. Javier Rosas Sierra (Mexico) 1:58:48; 6. Arturo Garza (Mexico) 1:58:51; 7. Leonardo Nolasco (Mexico) 1:58:56; 8. Brent McMahon (Canada) 2:00:08; 9. Sebastien LaFlamme (Canada) 2:00:58; 10. Mark Fretta (Portland, Ore.) 2:01:22

Women
1. Susan Williams (Denver, Colo.) 2:07:47; 2. Becky Gibbs (Minnetonka, Minn.) 2:09:22; 3. Jennifer Gutierrez (Greenwood Village) 2:10:20; 4. Julie Pittsinger (Wenatchee, Wash.) 2:14:16; 5. Gillian Moody (Canada) 2:16:27; 6. Christine Jeffrey (Canada) 2:17:37; 7. Melanie McQuaid (Canada) 2:19:32; 8. Maria Eugenia Barrera (Mexico) 2:19:47; 9. Adara Garcia (Mexico) 2:19:49; 10. Aide Vidales (Mexico) 2:32:26