Jason Wilson?of Barbados has won the 2013 Vina del Mar ITU Triathlon Premium Pan American Cup from a field of 29 top triathletes from around the world.
Wilson completed the course in 1 hour 44:10 minutes in Chile on Sunday, followed by Mexico’s Irving Perez in 1:44:27 and hometown favourite Philepe Barraza in 1:44:45. Anthony McSweeney of Australia and Martin Bedirian of Argentina rounded out the top five.
In his first competition of the year, Wilson was the leader out of the water at the end of a 1.5K swim in 16:59 minutes, closely followed by a group of three and a fast chasing pack.
After a quick transition, the lead group of five kept the pressure on and stretched their lead by another minute over the field. Wilson’s bike time for the 40K was 55:37 and he began the 10K run with the four other top finishers.
His run has improved tremendously over the past six months and he used this and his experience to time his surge for victory about a kilometre from the finish.
Perez was able to hang on for a short time but Wilson simply powered away from his challengers and won his first Pan American Cup with an impressive 10K time of 30:22, the second fastest of this leg.
With his eyes set on qualifying for the Rio Olympics in 2016, this is the perfect start to a long buildup over the next three years. He missed out on the London Olympics last year by just one qualification spot but enjoyed some measure of satisfaction in his recent victory, as two London Olympians were among those he defeated in Chile.
His next race will be Sunday’s Coquimbo ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup, also in Chile. Another strong field is expected with 36 already registered on the start list.
Wilson is also expected to be a big boost for the 2013 Bridgetown Pan American Continental Cup Sprint Triathlon which will take place off Brandon’s Beach. This race was won last year by former world champion Daniel Unger of Germany with Lauren Campbell of Canada taking the women’s section.
Strong representation is expected again this year with the United States, Canada and Mexico and other Latin American countries sending their best triathletes.
The Bridgetown race is one of three sprint races on the PATCO 2013 calendar, with the others in Brazil and Clermont, Florida.
Meanwhile, the Barbados Federation of Island Triathletes (BFIT) will have Race 4 of the Trikids Series on Sunday around the Aquatic Centre, starting at 7 a.m. (PR/SAT)
