SAN FRANCISCO, June 9 (Xinhua) -- About 2,000 people competed in the 2019 Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon Sunday that included swimming, bicycle and running events in the San Francisco Bay Area, organizers said.
The annual event consists of a 1.5-mile (about 2.4 km) swim starting near Alcatraz Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, an 18-mile (about 29 km) bike ride through the Golden Gate Park, and an 8-mile (about 13 km) run that finishes at the Marina Green in Marin County, north of San Francisco.
The participants took a plunge from a boat into the cold water near Alcatraz Island one after another in less than eight minutes and swam against strong currents to shore.
Ben Kanute from Arizona, a two-time overall champion in 2017 and 2018, was proclaimed the first-place winner again this year with an overall time of 1 hour and 59 minutes, the local KRON4 TV reported.
Australian Olympic athlete Ashleigh Gentle was the women's champion with an overall time of 2 hours and 13 minutes.
The annual event is one of the oldest and most difficult triathlons in the Bay Area.
Individual athletes or teams may compete in the divisions Professional/Elite, Age Group Amateur, Challenged Athletes, Open Relay, or Corporate ESCAPE, according to the event's official website.
