New Zealand triathlete Bevan Docherty announced his return to race fitness with an impressive victory at the latest of the Lifetime Fitness Series triathlons in Los Angeles this morning, finishing first in a world class field including recently crowned 2010 ITU World Champs Series winner Javier Gomez (ESP).
Fellow Kiwi Clark Ellice also raced well, finishing in 9th place in race five of a six race series that is rapidly gaining credibility and coverage in the States with $40,000 USD in prize money in LA and over $400,000 in total throughout the series.
The Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon Presented by Herbalife has become one of the largest and most prestigious triathlons on the West Coast, and was named Triathlete Magazines “Best Urban Triathlon” in March. The swim, bike, run attracts nearly 3,000 participants every year, from first-time recreational triathletes to the best of the professional field. The race is the fifth of six stops in the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup that kicked off in Philadelphia in June and wraps up in Dallas at the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon in October.
The victory is a welcome return to form for Docherty, who withdrew from recent ITU World Champs Series events with exhaustion after over training during the northern summer before heading back to his home in the States to freshen up and begin planning for 2011.
The win comes not long after Docherty became a father for the first time to a baby girl suggesting his new status as a Dad agrees with the two time Olympic medallist. Victory over great rival Gomez will be especially sweet for Docherty after what has been a difficult year.
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon
Elite Men
1 Bevan Docherty NZL 1:50:21
2 Javier Gomez ESP 1:50:34
3 Andrew Starykowicz USA 1:51:06
4 Greg Bennett USA 1:51:37
5 Filip Ospaly CZE 1:52:36
Plus
9 Clark Ellice NZL 1:56:32
