Zaferes, Hemming, True and Kanute take national honours
In 2018, Katie Zaferes (USA) was the master of consistency. In six of the eight World Triathlon Series (WTS) Zaferes was on the podium – including a second-place finish at WTS Montreal. To finish the year, Zaferes just missed the WTS overall title, finishing second behind Vicky Holland (GBR). Zaferes also helped the USA. Mixed Relay Team to two ITU medals, including a bronze at the Hamburg ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships. To close her 2018 campaign, Zaferes was awarded the women’s USAT ITU Triathlete of the Year.
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Eli Hemming (USA) was named the men’s USAT ITU Triathlete of the Year after a breakout season. Hemming started his year with a victory at the Sarasota-Bradenton CAMTRI North American Championships. At WTS Bermuda finished 11th – a career-best result, and helped the U.S. Mixed Relay Team to a gold medal in Nottingham. He finished his 2018 season on a high with two World Cup medals – a bronze in Tongyeong, South Korea, and a silver in Miyazaki, Japan.
Sarah True (USA) took the women’s USAT Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year honours. After transitioning from ITU racing to long course distance in 2017. In 2018, True earned a pair of third-place finishes at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and St. George. In her Kona debut, she finished fourth.
On the men’s side, Ben Kanute (USA) won the USAT men’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. In 2018, Kanute did it all, racing Super League Triathlon, ITU, non-draft and 70.3 races. His season highlights included victories at the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Ironman 70.3 Texas, the New York Triathlon and the Boston Triathlon. He placed fourth at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, possibly the deepest world championship 70.3 field in history.
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Below is a complete list of the 2018 USA Triathlon Elite Triathlete of the Year selections:
Women’s Olympic/ITU Triathlete of the Year: Katie Zaferes
Men’s Olympic/ITU Triathlete of the Year: Eli Hemming
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Sophie Chase
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Morgan Pearson
Women’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year: Sarah True
Men’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year: Ben Kanute
Women’s Elite Off-Road Triathlete of the Year: Julie Baker
Men’s Elite Off-Road Triathlete of the Year: Josiah Middaugh
