Pallant-Browne tickled Pink and 4 in a Row for Olympian Kanute as they Triumph in Escape from Alcatraz
Emma Pallant-Browne was tickled pink with her win while Olympian Ben Kanute was ecstatic to connect 4 in a row as he crossed the finishing line to victory in their Escape from Alcatraz triumphs.
Emma Pallant-Browne is riding a crest of a wave. Her recent victory at the 2021 IRONMAN Boulder 70.3, Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) made it six podium finishes from six race this year that included first place at IRONMAN 70.3 Florida and third place at IRONMAN 70.3 St. George. Next up was the announcement that she had been selected as the ‘Captains Pick’ for the Collins Cup for Team Europe. And to top it all off this week-end Pallant-Browne made it seven podiums In a row with victory in her debut Escape from Alcatraz race.
The American athlete Ben Kanute etched his named in the annals of Escape for Alcatraz history as the first man to win Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon for four consecutive years. After winning this race from 2017 to 2019, Kanute has been waiting two years for his chance at the record after 2020’s race was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Olympians and World Champions lead a field of professional triathletes that included Olympian Ben Kanute (USA), 2016 IRONMAN World Champion Holly Lawrence (GBR), two-time World Duathlon Champion Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR), two-time XTERRA World Champion Bradly Weiss (RSA) and more
Taking the plunge into San Francisco Bay from a Paddle Steamer the stacked field of triathletes hit the water at 7:30 a.m. to embark on a challenging 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shoreline of Marina Green, an 18-mile twisting bike ride through the Presidio, and an 8-mile trail run out to Baker Beach and up the infamous 200-plus step Sand Ladder. To finish the race, the triathletes followed a path back under the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Crissy Field and finish on the grass at Marina Green.
Womens Race
In the women’s race it was a tussle between the two Brits Pallant-Browne and Holly Lawrence. It was Lawrence who took the race by the horns with Lawrence taking a two-minute lead on Pallant-Browne as the exited the swim and made that lead a little over 2 minutes 30 seconds after they had completed the bike leg.
Exiting T2 onto the 8-mile run section and as seen at IRONMAN Boulder 70.3, there is nothing more Pallant-Brown loves than something big to chase. Although Lawrence had a substantial lead it was it was clear that she was not going to have it all her own way on the run section. And so, it turned out to be as Pallant-Browne was once again running majestically and eating away at the time deficit.
It was not long before Emma Pallant-Browne hooked onto the shoulders of Lawrence then pushed on as she catapulted her run away towards the finishing line to eventually take the win in 02:22:20 with Lawrence coming through in second place in a time of 02:23.04 and Jakie Herring of the USA taking third spot in 02:27:44.
Womens Classification
- Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) – 2:22:20
- Holly Lawrence (GBR) – 2:23:04
- Jackie Hering (USA) – 2:27:44
- Grace Thek (AUS) – 2:28:04
- Ginger Howell (USA) – 2:40:45
Men’s Race
It was evident that Kanute was not going to get it all his own way in this race being up against fellow countrymen seven-time IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Champion Ben Hoffman and Jason West (USA) was recently victorious at the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 Des Moines and was be competing in his second Escape after placing third place in the 2018 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Also, in the mix two-time EXTERRA World Champion and two-time IRONMAN 70.3 Champion Bradly Weiss (RSA)
Greg Harper (USA) was the first man to exit the water swimming the 1.5 km San Fransico Bay in 00:32:30 giving him a 46 second lead over Kanute and the rest of the field. Out of T1 and onto the 18-mile bike section and Kanute was a man on a mission as he powered his way to the front. But hot on his tail was Bradly Weiss using all his EXTERRA endurance strength to set the fastest bike split and reducing Kanute lead down to 11 seconds.
Exiting T2 and onto the 8-mile run section Weiss did not have to run legs to go with Kanute but Jason West looked as if he did as he produced a great run to move into second place. Nevertheless, it running prowess of Kanute that saw him maintain his lead to make history and cross the winning line in a time of 02.10.11 with Jason West late surge seeing him take second place 2 minutes behind in a time of 02:02:16 just seconds ahead of Weiss whose valiant efforts saw him take third spot in a time of 02:12:41.
Mens Classification
- Ben Kanute (USA) – 2:10:11
- Jason West (USA) – 2:12:16
- Bradley Weiss (RSA) – 2:12:41
- Ben Hoffman (USA) – 2:14:53
- Greg Harper (USA) – 2:15:23
The pros were joined by 2,000 amateur triathletes testing their outer limits of human endurance for the 40th year of this annual event.
Famous Alcatraz inmates like Al “Scarface” Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly would have been proud that they all managed to Escape from Alcatraz.
