Olympian Erica Hawley produced a resilient performance at the 2026 Americas Triathlon Cup in Gulfport, securing a hard-fought fifth place at Jones Park, while Nicholas Pilgrim competed in the Elite Men’s Field.
Competing against a high-calibre Women’s Elite field in the United States, Hawley stopped the clock in a total time of 1:00:36. The Bermudian international remained in contention throughout the sprint-distance event, beginning with a solid 750m swim which she completed in 9:54.
Hawley showed her strength during the transition to the 20k bike leg, maintaining a blistering pace to record a split of 29:41. She concluded the race with a disciplined 5k run, crossing the line after a final segment of 19:16 to ensure her spot among the leaders.
The victory on home soil went to Kelly Wetland of the United States. Wetland delivered a clinical performance across all three disciplines to take the gold medal with a winning time of 59:35.
Despite missing out on the podium, Hawley’s consistent splits across the swim, bike, and run further demonstrate her growing form on the continental circuit as she continues to climb the regional rankings.
Pilgrim faced a formidable continental challenge securing a 27th-place finish in a high-speed Elite Men’s encounter.
Pilgrim took to the start line at Jones Park to compete against some of the region's Elite Men’s premier talent. He crossed the finish line with a total time of 55:52, showcasing consistent form across the sprint-distance course.
Pilgrim began his day with a sharp 9:11 split in the swim, keeping him within reach of the mid-pack as the athletes transitioned to the technical bike leg. He maintained his position through the cycling phase, clocking a 26:27 over the 20km route, before concluding the event with a 18:36 run to the finish line.
The victory in the Elite Men’s field went to Canada’s Mathis Beaulieu. The Canadian was in imperious form throughout the three disciplines, stopping the clock in a winning time of 52:42 to take the gold medal.
For Pilgrim, the experience in Mississippi provides vital competitive mileage as he continues to build his ranking and gain exposure against World Cup-caliber opposition on the North American circuit.
|
