Results/Photos

Date: July 25, 2026 Participant: Laura Benson #2013 Race: 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon Event: Olympic Triathlon Weather: Hot, but otherwise a great day for a triathlon.

Strong Bike Split Fuels a Solid Olympic-Distance Finish Laura Benson completed the 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon in 2:47:50, finishing 6th in the competitive 30-34 Female division. Her swim came in at 19:58, followed by a crisp 3:21 T1. The bike leg was the standout segment, covering the course at roughly 18.2 mph over 1:20:18 good enough for a top-three age-group split through several checkpoints. A quick 2:12 T2 led into a 1:02:03 run to close out the day. Compared to her 2025 Spudman result of 2:35:33, this year's time was about 12 minutes slower, yet she still moved up three spots in her division (from 9th to 6th), reflecting a tougher field. The run pace eased slightly in the back half, settling near 10:05-10:18 per mile after a stronger start a segment worth revisiting in future training blocks to sustain early run speed.