Hy-Vee discontinues triathlon series

Hy-Vee announced today that it is discontinuing the popular Hy-Vee Triathlon events. While the series included races for age groupers and kids, the elite races offered some of the biggest prize purses available. Hy-Vee, the supermarket chain, will shift its health and wellness focus to a new series for children to be announced mid-March. The Des Moines-based Hy-Vee Triathlon was first launched in 2007, drawing world-class athletes and raising more than $750,000 for charity.

“We are extremely proud to have put a spotlight on the sport of triathlon, through the world-class Hy-Vee Triathlon,” said Andy McCann, executive vice president and chief health officer of Hy-Vee. “These events will continue to hold a special place in the history of our company, and we thank those athletes and volunteers who allowed us to be successful for so many years.”

Four-time Olympic triathlete Hunter Kemper won the 2014 Hy-Vee Triathlon 5150 Elite Cup race and he thanked the series for their efforts explaining,“Winning the Hy-Vee Triathlon in 2014 was a highlight in my career, and I want to thank Hy-Vee for their tremendous support of the sport over the last eight years.”

“A legacy has been created here,” he continued, [a]nd I look forward to learning more about the new event series Hy-Vee will announce and the momentum it will continue with a younger generation of athletes.”
For more information visit: www.hy-veetriathlon.com

From press release