Three-time Accenture champion, Australian Craig Walton (pictured left), was able to build his typical bike lead on an abnormally cool August day in Chicago, but with only two and a half minutes on Craig Alexander (pictured below) going into T-2, Alexander was able to run his way back into the race and take it over. After catching American Greg Remaly, Alexander passed Walton at approximately the 4-kilometer mark on the lakeshore run. Alexander then smoothly pulled to victory in the pro wave of the largest triathlon of the world. New Zealand's Shane"Snuffy" Smith won the swim prime but faded during the run due to a sore calf muscle. Preliminary results clocked Alexander in 1:52:10, Matt Reed second in 1:52:40, and Walton third in 1:53:20.

In the women's event, another Australian---in what turned into her first win on American soil---23-year-old Emma Snowsill came out of the chilly Lake Michigan water on the heels of the swim leader, Linda Gallo of San Jose, Calif., and masterfully took over the remainder of the Olympic distance event. Snowsill won in an unofficial time of 2:04:30, and the surprise story of the day, Rebeccah Wassner of New York City finished second in 2:11:30. Veteran Karen Smyers, well behind at the finish of the swim, churned her way into 3rd place by the end of the day in 2:11:43.

7500 triathletes from around the world competed in the Midwestern classic that has dates back to 1983.

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