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Canada’s Alex Coates takes silver at ITU Iberoamerican championships in Cuba

February 16, 2016
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As one of the early ITU races in the 2016 season, the Habana CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup and Iberoamerican Championships took place over the weekend in Cuba. One of Latin America’s most iconic new races, the event takes place in Habana’s Marina Hemingway with a fast course in the heart of rich, Cuban culture.

Alexandra Coates and Alexander Hinton were the sole Canadians to compete in the sprint distance. There was also a half distance race over the weekend.

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Alexx2 take on Cuba!

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Spain’s Camila Alonso and Colombia’s Carlos Javier Quinchara took the titles on Sunday. For Quinchara, a 2012 Olympian, a time of 00:54:40 gave him his first win of the season with a 30 second lead over the runner up. Alonso had just a two second victory against Coates.

On the men’s side, Ecuador’s Juan Jose Andrade and Venezuela’s Luis Miguel Valesquez rounded out a fully South American podium. With Quinchara, the three held the lead from early on in the bike leg. Alexander Hinton finished his race in 00:56:26, in eighth place out of a 35-man field.

The women’s podium finishers all found their lead after T1. “My swim was okay and I had to work hard to join the lead group on the bike,” said Alonso. “(Argentina’s Romina Palacios Balena), Alexandra and I took turns and managed the catch the leaders. I felt great on the run and realized I had a chance to win the race in the second half. I saw the finish line and gave it my all until the end.” American Taylor Spivey finished third, just seven seconds after Coates.