USA’s Matt Chrabot Races to Fifth-Place Finish at Yokohama WCS Event

YOKOHAMA, Japan — USA Triathlon National Team member Matt Chrabot battled his way through warm conditions to record his second career top-five finish in the International Triathlon Union World Championship Series on Monday.

Chrabot (Colorado Springs, Colo.) notched a time of 1 hour, 50 minutes, 15 seconds on the Olympic-distance course to record his top showing on the season. Jarrod Shoemaker (Maynard, Mass.) was 26th, followed by Mark Fretta (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in 32nd. Jillian Petersen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished 43rd in the women’s event.

Thanks to his performance Sunday, Chrabot is well positioned entering the 2012 WCS, as the Yokohama event counts towards next year’s series rankings. The race was originally scheduled for May, but was postponed after the devastating earthquake that hit the region earlier this year.

Joao Silva of Portugal was the men’s winner in 1:49:21, while New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt claimed the women’s title in 1:59:17. Click here for full coverage from triathlon.org.

Chrabot was in the mix from the start, as he and Fretta exited the swim within 20 seconds of the lead. The trio of Americans was among a pack of 50 riders that stayed together throughout the eight-lap, 40-kilometer bike, which was contested on a flat and technical course.

Chrabot, who traditionally excels in warm-weather racing, closed with a 31:15 10k run to lock up the second-best WCS finish of his career. He now owns three all-time top-10 finishes with a career-best showing of fourth in Kitzbühel in 2010.

The ITU World Championship Series is a key proving ground for the United States’ top triathletes aiming for a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. In addition to racing for WCS points, athletes also will be looking to earn points toward securing a spot for their country at the 2012 Olympic Triathlon in London. The 2012 series will resume in Sydney, Australia, on April 14-15, 2012, followed a stop on U.S. soil in San Diego on May 12-13, 2012.

Yokohama Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series
(1,500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run)

Men – Click here for complete results
1. Joao Silva (POR), 1:49:21
2. Alexander Brukhankov (RUS), 1:49:35
3. Dmitry Polyansky (RUS), 1:50:04
5. Matt Chrabot (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:50:15
26. Jarrod Shoemaker (Maynard, Mass.), 1:52:28
32. Mark Fretta (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:52:56

Women – Click here for complete results 
1. Andrea Hewitt (NZL), 1:59:17
2. Emma Moffatt (AUS), 1:59:30
3. Kate McIlroy (NZL), 1:59:44
43. Jillian Petersen (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 2:06:16

About USA Triathlon
Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon – one of the fastest growing sports in the world – as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. USA Triathlon sanctions 3,500 races and connects with more than 140,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including ITU World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the International Triathlon Union and the United States Olympic Committee.