Carolyn Murray of Canada pulled off a major upset Sunday, winning today’s Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup. Murray, whose previous best world cup result was an 8th place back in 2005, took her first world cup title in a tense duel with Australia’s Felicity Abram. Murray’s win was the second straight for Canadian women – rookie Kirsten Sweetland earned her first world cup a year ago at Richards Bay.

Murray, who broke away on the bike, held on against Abrams’ 35:01 run with a second-best 35:09 run that gave her a three-second margin of victory. Last year’s Richards Bay silver medalist Magali Di Marco Messmer of Switzerland held on for the bronze – 9 seconds back of Murray.

American Olympic hopeful Sarah Groff, who must place first American woman at Hy-Vee to upset favorite Sarah Haskins for the third U.S. women’s Olympic slot, emerged from the swim with a 22-seconds lead. Groff worked hard on the bike to build a 35-second lead, but was swallowed by a large chase pack that included pre-race favorites Ricarda Lisk of Germany, South African Mari Rabie, Nicky Samuels of New Zealand, Abram and Di Marco, the 2000 Olympic bronze medalist.

After 28 kilometers, the second chase pack caught up with the lead group and 36 women rode together into T2.

Murray and Haiboeck led after the first lap of the 10-kilometer run. Just shy of the halfway mark Murray broke away to a slim lead on fellow Canadian Kathy Tremblay and Di Marco. After withstanding Abram’s late assault, Murray now needs a top-8 finish at the world championships in Vancouver to earn an automatic Olympic berth.

Abram, still smoldering after losing the third Australian women’s Olympic slot two weeks ago, overtook Di Marco for the silver and her second world cup podium of 2008. Tremblay, also in contention for the Canadian Olympic squad, finished fourth, her second top-5 world cup result in 2008.

After her pyrotechnics on the bike, Groff recoeverd to run an encouraging 36:29 10k to finish 14th - 84 seconds behind Murray.

Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup
Richards Bay, South Africa
May 4, 2008
S 1.5k/ B 40k/ R 10k

Elite Women results

1. Carolyn Murray (Can) 2:03:32
2. Felicity Abram (Aus) 2:03:35
3. Magali Di Marco Messmer (Sui) 2:03:41
4. Kathy Tremblay (Can) 2:03:51
5. Ricarda Lisk (Ger) 2:04:11
6. Nicky Samuels (Nzl) 2:04:20
7. Tania Halboeck (Aut) 2:04:24
8. Marion Lorblanchet (Fra) 2:04:28
9. Emma Davis (Irl) 2:04:29
10. Maria Czesnik (Pol) 2:04:36
14. Sarah Groff (USA) 2:04:56
17. Jillian Peterson (USA) 2:05:49
31. Amanda Stevens (USA) 2:09:27
35. Justine Whipple (USA) 2:13:32