Hawley & Smith Climb the Global Triathlon Standings
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s elite triathletes are making significant strides on the international stage as the 2026 season begins to take shape, with Olympian Erica Hawley and Tyler Smith both seeing movement in the latest World Triathlon rankings.
Following her seasonal debut at the 2026 Americas Triathlon Cup in Gulfport, Hawley has firmly established herself among the world’s elite. The Olympian’s performance in Mississippi has solidified her position in the upper echelons of the sport, where she currently occupies 87th place in the overall World Rankings. Her consistency at the highest level of competition is further reflected in her World Triathlon Championship Series standing, where she holds a highly respectable 70th position. Within the Americas region, Hawley remains a formidable force, sitting 16th in the Continental rankings as she prepares for a busy summer of racing.
While Hawley maintains her steady presence at the top, her compatriot Tyler Smith has enjoyed a meteoric rise following a blistering start to the calendar year. Smith has already secured two top-ten finishes in 2026, showcasing a level of tactical maturity and raw pace that has seen him surge up the leaderboards. These results have propelled him to a career-defining World Ranking of 307th, a significant jump that highlights his trajectory toward the sport's elite tier.
Smith’s domestic and regional form is equally impressive, with his recent exploits moving him to 71st in the Continental rankings. For both athletes, these numbers represent more than just statistics; they are a testament to the rigorous training blocks and the growing infrastructure of Bermudian triathlon. As the season progresses into the major European and Asian fixtures, the island’s leading duo look well-positioned to continue their ascent and challenge for podium honors on the global circuit.
Friday, April 03, 2026
Langley & Schindel Claim Harrington Sound Crowns
IslandStats.com
Jackson Langley and Maddy Schindel produced dominant displays of endurance and transition speed to be crowned champions at the Bermuda Triathlon Association’s latest home event at Harrington Sound.
On a bright and sunny morning that provided near-perfect conditions for racing, a high-caliber field took to the crystal-clear waters and rolling roads of the Sound for a demanding sprint-distance challenge consisting of a 685-meter swim, a 17.8km bike, and a 4.5km run.
From the opening horn, Jackson Langley established himself as the man to beat. He navigated the 685-meter swim in a sharp 8:17, ensuring he was among the leaders as the field transitioned to the technical bike course.
It was on the two wheels where Langley truly pulled away, clocking a blistering 27:58 over the 17.8km distance. Refusing to let up, he closed out the morning with a clinical 15:57 run to stop the clock with an overall winning time of 52:12. His performance was a masterclass in consistency across all three disciplines, leaving the chasing pack with no answer to his sustained pace.
The women’s race saw Maddy Schindel deliver a resilient performance to secure her spot on the top step of the podium. Schindel, who finished an impressive 8th overall in the combined field, crossed the line with a total time of 1:11:27.
Her path to victory began with an 11:47 swim, positioning her well for the challenging middle leg. She maintained her momentum with a 36:51 bike split before finding an extra gear in the final stage, recording a 22:49 run to fending off her nearest rivals.
The event marks another successful outing for the Bermuda Triathlon Association as it continues to foster local talent on home soil. With the conditions playing their part and the standard of competition continuing to rise, the performances of both Langley and Schindel serve as a significant benchmark for the remainder of the domestic season.
For Langley, the focus now shifts to maintaining this "engine-room" form ahead of upcoming regional assignments, while Schindel’s tactical execution at Harrington Sound cements her status as one of the island's most consistent performers on the multisport circuit.
Olympian Erica Hawley admits she has found much-needed "reassurance" after securing an impressive fifth-place finish at the Americas Triathlon Cup in Gulfport.
Stepping onto the start line in Mississippi, Hawley confessed to a degree of uncertainty regarding her short-course sharpness. Having tailored her recent training block toward the endurance demands of the 70.3 circuit, the "punchy" nature of a sprint-distance race presented a significant tactical question mark.
However, the Olympian relied on her extensive experience to navigate a chaotic opening. Facing a crowded in-water start alongside 70 other competitors, Hawley described an "aggressive" swim where technical infringements on the starting rope handed several rivals an early, if contentious, advantage.
"I had an okay swim," Hawley reflected. "At the start, we were supposed to hold onto a rope, and it was obvious many athletes were not doing this and had a pretty big advantage. I knew it was likely going to be pretty aggressive."
Emerging from the water, Hawley found herself in a high-caliber chase pack during the flat, two-lap bike segment. Working alongside several pre-race favourites, the group maintained a fast tempo to ensure the leaders remained within striking distance heading into the second transition.
The primary concern for the Bermudian remained the final 5km run, particularly given a lack of specific speed work in her 2026 programme. Yet, in a performance that surprised even herself, Hawley delivered a clinical run to cement her spot in the top five.
"I was most nervous for the run as I haven’t really done any speed work this year," she admitted. "I surprised myself and ran really well. It was useful to see that I can execute a fast 5km on the training I’ve been doing."
The result serves as a vital "benchmark" for Hawley as she begins to map out the remainder of her season. With the Gulfport performance providing a clear indication of her current fitness levels, the focus now shifts toward recovery and finalising a race calendar that balances her burgeoning 70.3 ambitions with her proven sprint-distance pedigree.
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Smith Fifth in Mossel Bay & Hayward Competes in Portugal
IslandStats.com
Bermudian triathlete Tyler Smith has recorded his strongest finish of the 2026 season so far, clinching a superb fifth place at the Africa Triathlon Premium Cup in Mossel Bay.
Competing in the spectacular host city on South Africa’s world-renowned Garden Route, Smith demonstrated the elite-level endurance that has seen him climb the world rankings since his return from injury. Just one week after his season opener in Namibia, the 27-year-old navigated a testing standard-distance course in 1:51:28, proving he is a major contender on the continental circuit.
Smith's afternoon began with a solid 1.5km swim in Santos Beach, exiting the water in 19:26 to place himself ninth heading into the first transition. He maintained his position among the leaders during the 40km bike segment, clocking the ninth-fastest cycle of the day in 58:54. However, it was during the final discipline that the Bermudian truly excelled. Smith unleashed a blistering 10km run of 32:31—the second-fastest time in the entire elite field—to surge through the pack and secure his top-five standing.
While Smith was battling on the South African coast, fellow Bermudian Oliver Hayward was testing himself against the best young talent in Europe. Competing in the 2026 Europe Triathlon Junior Cup in Quarteira, Portugal, the 17-year-old delivered a determined performance in a highly competitive Junior Elite Men's Division.
Hayward crossed the line in 43rd place with an overall time of 59:07. His race began with a 750m swim of 9:21, followed by a sharp 29:55 transition onto the 20km bike course. Despite the intense pace of the European peloton, Hayward remained resilient, closing out his morning with an 18:13 run time.
The results mark a positive weekend for the Bermuda Triathlon Association on two different continents. As Smith continues to target the podium in his pursuit of world ranking points, Hayward’s experience in the high-pressure environment of the European Junior Cup provides a vital stepping stone for the island’s next generation of triathletes.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Hawley & Pilgrim Compete in Mississippi Heat
IslandStats.com
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.
