Kemper Dominates Run to Win 30th Escape From Alcatraz

Hunter Kemper took advantage of near perfect conditions today to take his second victory at 30^th edition of the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon. His victory signals a return from an injury plagued 2009 season.

Dustin McLarty lead a star studded pack of triathletes out of the water that included Kemper, Bevan Docherty, Andy Potts, Chris McCormack and Francesco Godoy as they navigated the 1 mile run to T1, which is unique to the escape.

Lead Group Runs Into T1

Docherty and Kemper were the first out of transition and down the road on the challenging 18-mile bike where the consolidated their lead and gapped Potts and Godoy by the time they reached T2. McCormack, who lost two minutes on the swim, and another two on the bike to the leaders, trailed in 5^th. As they left the transition area and began the run, Kemper was still in the lead with Docherty on his shoulder. Potts trailed in third.

Docherty Sticks With Kemper To Start Run

Another unique challenge of the escape is the sandladder. The sandladder is a 400-step staircase that leads from Baker Beach to the bluffs on the western edge of the Presidio that has been called “200 yards of sheer pain”. Kemper made his move at the sandladder, putting 20 seconds on Docherty by the top of the climb. He went on from that point to extend his lead by two minutes, covering the 8-mile run course in 44:14, the fastest run of the day.

Three time, and defending champion Andy Potts consolidated 3^rd and fought off a late challenge by Chris McCormack, who ran a 45:13, the second fastest run of the race to finish about 100 feet behind Potts. McCormack commented post race that he “[doesn’t] have the leg speed anymore”. A review of the time charts may dispute that.

McCormack Surges In An Unsuccessful Bid To Catch Potts At Finish

This was Kemper’s second victory at the Escape From Acatraz. He previously won the race in 2005. He celebrated this victory with a stop at the In-N-Out Burger at Fisherman’s Wharf for a Double Double shortly after the awards ceremony had concluded.