American Kirsten Kasper made a stunning transition from short-course racing to win the IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta in her very first attempt at the distance, while Bermuda Olympian Erica Hawley delivered an impressive top-ten finish in her 70.3 debut.
With zero prior experience on a time-trial bike and no appearances over the 70.3 distance, Kirsten Kasper stunned the elite field by winning IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta on her first outing. The American, making the leap from short-course racing, was a commanding presence from the opening meters of the race and sealed the victory decisively during the run leg.
The women’s race may have been impacted before the start, with ProTriNews reporting that an overnight incident saw a golf cart roll into the transition area, resulting in damage to some of the professional bikes, including those belonging to Jackie Hering (USA) and Steph Clutterbuck (GBR).
Bermuda Olympian Erica Hawley, also competing in her first 70.3 Ironman, delivered an excellent performance to secure a top-ten placement in the Women's Elite race.
Hawley finished with an overall time of 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 32 seconds. This time placed her 8th in the Women's Elite race out of 26 competitors. Her performance also saw her finish as the 8th female finisher out of 576 female competitors overall, and the 64th person to cross the line out of 2,269 total participants.
Her split times were:
Swim (1.2 Miles): 26 minutes and 2 seconds. Bike (56.3 Miles): 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 26 seconds. Run (13 Miles): 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 59 seconds.
Hawley's debut at the 70.3 distance marks a successful step into long-course triathlon, securing a result among the world's best athletes.
Friday, December 05, 2025
Hawley Set for Rookie 70.3 Ironman Challenge
IslandStats.com
Olympian Erica Hawley is set to take on a new challenge this Sunday, competing in her first-ever 70.3 Ironman event at IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta, located near Palm Springs, California.
Hawley, who has extensive experience in short-course triathlon, expressed a mixture of excitement and novelty about transitioning to the longer distance: "It feels a little weird being a rookie in a sport I’ve been part of for 10 years… but I’m so excited to take on this new distance," she wrote in a social media post.
The athlete acknowledged her support team for preparing her for the gruelling challenge: "Huge thanks to coach Jessica West for experimenting with a new training plan, Andrew Frank for all things bike and cooking, and Jason West for the Tri knowledge!”.
The IRONMAN 70.3 distance includes a ROKA Swim Course Distance of 1.2 Miles, a ZOOT Bike Course Distance of 56.3 Miles, and a HOKA Run Course Distance of 13 Miles, totaling the 70.3 miles.
The La Quinta event is positioned as an "end-of-year race & retreat". The course offers unique features designed to challenge and inspire:
Swim: The swim takes place in the cool, calm waters of Lake Cahuilla, allowing athletes to easily sight off the mountains. Bike: The bike course is described as a flat and fast, picturesque ride that includes exclusive access to a lap around the Thermal Raceway, offering a chance for "extra speed". Run: The run course is set on the Silver Rock Golf Course, featuring a stunning route filled with palm trees and views of the surrounding mountains.
Hawley also gave a special shoutout to her sponsors and equipment providers: “A special shoutout to Jakroo Custom Apparel for designing and creating my custom Bermuda suit - obsessed with how it turned out! We took inspo from the Bermuda pastels and famous pink sand." She also thanked Zach Gregg for the Argon bike, Aero Gain for the hydration setup, and Precision Fuel & Hydration for keeping her fueled.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
2025 Hawley Inside Top 100, Smith Focused on Return
IslandStats.com
As the 2025 triathlon season draws to a close, attention turns to the final international rankings for Bermuda's elite athletes, Erica Hawley and Tyler Smith, who have experienced contrasting years on the global circuit.
Erica Hawley concludes her 2025 campaign inside the top 100, finishing the year ranked 85th globally. Hawley achieved her strong ranking after a busy schedule that saw her compete in a total of six events over the course of the season. Her consistent presence and performance across these competitions have secured her a high standing as she looks toward the next major cycle.
For Tyler Smith, 2025 was a year largely defined by limited competition. Smith managed to compete in just one event throughout the season.
Following his single appearance, Smith will end the year ranked 399th in the world. Despite the lower ranking, the focus for Smith will now turn to rebuilding his competitive schedule and climbing the standings significantly in 2026.
Both triathletes will now enter a period of training and preparation as they aim to return strong for the new season, with Hawley looking to consolidate her top-100 position and Smith aiming for a rapid ascent up the rankings.
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Smith Battles Adversity to Secure Top-25 Finish in Brazil
IslandStats.com
Bermuda Olympian, Tyler Smith, successfully navigated the Elite field at the 2025 World Triathlon Cup Florianopolis in Brazil, showcasing his endurance and skill with a commendable twenty-first place finish in the Elite Men’s race.
Smith completed the gruelling course in a time of 55 minutes flat, placing him within two minutes of the winner. The men’s title was claimed by Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo, who delivered a powerful performance to clock the winning time of 53:24. Cantero Del Campo used a spectacular final run leg to reel in the leaders and secure his victory, finishing an extraordinary elite year on a high note.
For Smith, the result marks a significant step back into top-tier international competition after a prolonged battle with injuries. He recently won the local Cambridge Beaches Triathlon, but the transition back to the global circuit presents its own unique challenges.
"It took some time adjusting back to island life, after spending so many years overseas in different training groups," Smith admitted following the race. "Going from a structured training environment to basically being solo for an extended stint has definitely been a challenge."
His twenty-first position in the highly competitive World Cup demonstrates the hard work he has been putting into his rehabilitation and training back on the island, keeping him firmly in contention as he looks ahead to future international opportunities.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Olympic Schedule Unveiled Ahead of Ticket Rush
IslandStats.com
The wait is over for athletes and fans globally. The LA28 Olympic Games organizing committee has officially unveiled the event-by-event competition schedule, outlining when every medal moment will take place during the Games in Los Angeles.
The Games are set to be the biggest ever, featuring 51 sports across 49 competition venues in 18 zones throughout the Los Angeles region and Oklahoma City.
In a major scheduling innovation, the Triathlon will return to its Sydney 2000 tradition by awarding the very first medal of the Games.
Women's Individual Triathlon will kick off medal ceremonies on Day 1, Saturday, July 15, 2028, at 7:30 AM. The Men's Individual Triathlon will follow on Day 2, Sunday, July 16, 2028, at the same time. All three races will take place against the iconic coastal backdrop of Venice Beach, featuring a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run. The Mixed Relay will be the final triathlon event, scheduled for Thursday, July 20.
The schedule also confirms key dates for the Games: Opening Ceremony: Friday, July 14, 2028, at midnight Bermuda time. Closing Ceremony: Sunday, July 30, 2028, at 1:00 AM Bermuda time.
LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover urged fans to prepare: “With Olympic ticket registration opening in January of 2026, now is the time to start planning what events you want to attend, which sports are coming to your neighborhood and the moments of history you don’t want to miss”.
The schedule also features a historic swap, with Athletics taking place in the first week and Swimming in the second, allowing SoFi Stadium to host both the Opening Ceremony and the aquatic finals.
