Athletes Wiktor Rajca, Kelly Barton and Ayesha Rollinson Triumph in the 2024 Escape From Alcatraz™ Triathlon
SAN FRANCISCO – (June 10, 2024) The exhilarating weekend leading up to the 42nd annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon kicked off on Friday, June 7 with a Shakeout Run hosted in partnership with the Golden Gate Triathlon Club and led by their esteemed president, James O’Brien, at the Sports Basement Presidio. Enthusiastic participants warmed up, setting the stage for a weekend of extreme athletic competition.
The action-packed weekend continued Saturday, June 8 as the San Francisco T100 race, part of the T100 Triathlon World Tour, unfolded with competitive fervor. This year marked a milestone for IMG through a newly forged partnership with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), which has successfully incorporated the impressive course of Escape into the all-new tour’s roster. The professional athletes took on the grueling race where Marten Van Riel and Taylor Knibb were crowned winners amid fierce competition. Among the impressive lineup of professionals included second place winners Kyle Smith, Brit Kat Matthews and many other impressive athletes.
Sunday, June 9 marked the apex of the weekend as nearly 2,000 competitors from all over the world, including amateur and seasoned triathletes, participants for charity, tenacious age group athletes and mobility-challenged athletes, descended upon San Francisco for the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. In an incredible showcase of stamina and skill, Wiktor Rajca, Kelly Barton and Ayesha Rollinson, respectively, triumphed in their divisions. Now in its 42nd year, the storied race featured a harrowing 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to Marina Green; a rigorous 18-mile bike ride through the Presidio’s daunting hills; an extensive 8-mile run to Baker Beach and back; and concluded with the legendary ascent of the 200-step Sand Ladder.
During the closing ceremony, which was emceed by Julie Moss, Mike Wattigny and former pro triathlete and six-time winner of the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Andy Potts, the victors were honored with medals by competing pros from the T100 race including, former Escape winner Emma Pallant-Browne, Tamara Jewett, Marten Van Riel and Aaron Royle. In addition, Amazfit, a brand specializing in wearable fitness technology, gifted exclusive smartwatches to the top performers in swimming, running and biking.
"Each year, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon grows more remarkable, and I am deeply grateful to witness yet another stunning chapter of this event. It's truly a privilege to host such a diverse and vibrant gathering of athletes from all over the world here in San Francisco,” said Bill Burke, Race Director of the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon.
All of the winners demonstrated an impressive display of speed and relentless determination, truly setting a high standard for competition. The event was graced with sunny skies, creating perfect conditions for both seasoned athletes and the numerous first-time participants. The swim course was especially enjoyable, with calmer waters and over 100 safety personnel on hand to ensure a safe experience for everyone.
"We are extremely excited to wrap up yet another fantastic year of Escape,” said Jennifer Lau, Vice President of IMG Action Sports. "It was great to have seen so many first-time Escapees join us for one of the most iconic races globally, making this event truly memorable. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful partners and sponsors, whose support ensures a fantastic experience for everyone involved, from athletes to spectators."
Adding to the excitement, the Collegiate ESCAPE, consisting of both undergraduate and graduate student triathletes from prominent universities such as UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara, competed with vigor. The universities brought their best to the forefront and by the end of the event, it was UC Berkley who clinched the victory.
On another front, employees from well-known corporations like PWC, Surrozen Inc., Fieldwire and Sports Basement took a break from the boardroom to tackle the race. The corporate teams pushed through with remarkable energy and the winning corporate team, Sports Basement, earned bragging rights until the next meet.
The weekend not only celebrated fierce competition but also a vibrant community spirit. Spectators from across the globe congregated at Marina Green, transforming it into a bustling hub of activity with the complimentary Escape Fitness Festival. Attendees relished a selection of goods from vendors such as the digital coaching app Humango, sports bag partner Kitbrix, recovery footwear brand OOFOS, Unlimited Biking and Amazfit. Arrowhead was also present, providing water samples and hosting giveaways that included sweatshirts, blankets and more.
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon extends gratitude to all of their official sponsors, vendors and charity organizations for all of their support including Amazfit, Aquasphere, Arrowhead Waters, Humango, Kitbrix, OOFOS, Unlimited Biking, City Cruises, Finisher Pix, San Francisco Chronicle, SF Rec & Parks, San Francisco Travel Association, Sports Basement, Water World Swim, American Cancer Society, Team Bright Side, Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), Dare2Tri, The Healy Foundation, Organization for Autism Research (OAR), Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K) and Semper Fi.
Photos: HERE
Credit: Escape From Alcatraz / Brandon Means
B- Roll: HERE
Credit: Escape From Alcatraz / Brandon Means
For additional information on the race, visit www.EscapeAlcatrazTri.com or follow @EscapeAlcatrazTri on Instagram,@EscapeAlcatraz on Twitter, and Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon on Facebook.
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About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events, and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training, and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.
About Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO)
The PTO is a new body, co-owned by the professional athletes, seeking to elevate and grow the sport of triathlon and take it to the next level. The T100 Triathlon World Tour is the new name for the PTO Tour and will feature a season-long schedule of eight T100 races during 2024 that will be raced over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run) and feature the world’s best triathletes going head-to-head on a consistent basis in iconic locations around the world. The broadcast will follow the 2023 PTO Tour approach which showed races live around the world in 195+ territories, courtesy of the PTO’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as well as a range of other international, regional and local broadcasters.
