Courtesy: USAT

U.S. elite Julie Pittsinger finished first and teammate Susie Gallucci was third Saturday at the Triatlon Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, an International Triathlon Union (ITU) points race in Ixtapa, Mexico.

Pittsinger (Wenatchee, Wash.) completed the Olympic distance race in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 20 seconds. Leigh Tynan from Canada was second (2:22:31) and Gallucci (Hudson, Ohio), a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., was third (2:23:15).

The three athletes were together from the beginning, as Gallucci left the swim first, followed by Tynan and Pittsinger. The three worked together on the bike before Pittsinger made her move on the run.

Mexico's Eligio Cervantes won the men's race in 2:02:45. Christoph O'Donnell (Cambridge, Mass.) was the top U.S. men's finisher in seventh (2:04:15). Jeff Sneed (La Canada, Calif.) was eighth (2:04:18).

Americans Doug Friman (Tucson, Ariz.) and Shawn Saathoff (Wilmington, Del.) left the swim first and stayed with the front pack on the bike, but fell back on the run.

Complete results are posted to www.triathlon.org/international/int- 2002/events/ixtapa-2002/index.htm.

Triatlon Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Sept. 28, 2002; Ixtapa, Mexico
1.5k swim; 40k bike; 10k run

Women
1. Julie Pittsinger (Wenatchee, Wash.) 2:20:20; 2. Leigh Tynan (Canada) 2:22:31; 3. Susie Gallucci (Hudson, Ohio) 2:23:15; 4. Adara del Carmen Torres (Mexico) 2:24:21; 5. Aline Garza (Mexico) 2:25:00; 6. Maria Luisa Martinez (Mexico) 2:25:30; 7. Maria Eugenia Barrera (Mexico) 2:27:03; 8. Adriana Fabiola Corona (Mexico) 2:28:37; 9. Lisset Olivera (Mexico) 2:28:39; 10. Adriana Madrigal (Mexico) 2:28:41
Other U.S. finisher
15. Lori Deacon (Denver, Colo.)

Men
1. Eligio Cervantes (Mexico) 2:02:45; 2. Dirk Bockel (Germany) 2:03:06; 3. Javier Rosas (Mexico) 2:03:15; 4. Uzziel Valderrabano (Mexico) 2:03:21; 5. Antonio Marcos (Brazil) 2:04:01; 6. Leonardo Nolasco (Mexico) 2:04:09; 7. Christoph O'Donnell (Cambridge, Mass.) 2:04:15; 8. Jeff Sneed (La Canada, Calif.) 2:04:18; 9. Alan Villanueva (Mexico) 2:06:32; 10. Leonardo Chacon (Costa Rica) 2:06:56
Other U.S. finishers
11. Doug Friman (Tucson, Ariz.); 21. Shawn Saathoff (Wilmington, Del.)