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Former Olympian Wins Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon For Record 6th Time

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Former Olympian Andy Potts won the 27.5-mile Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Sunday for a record sixth time as more than 2,000 people swam from Alcatraz Island, rode bikes and ran through San Francisco, a spokeswoman said.

Potts, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a triathlon competitor for the United States in the 2004 Olympics, took 2 hours, 4 minutes and 21 seconds to complete the 34th annual race, spokeswoman DeeDee Taft.

The triathlon event included a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz to the city's shore and an 18-mile bike ride followed by an eight-mile foot race through San Francisco.

Another former U.S. Olympic athlete, Sarah Haskins, of Clermont, Florida, competing in the race for the first time, won first place among woman with a time of 2:17:42, Taft said.

The more than 2,000 people who entered the competition started today at the island by swimming in 58-degree water in San Francisco Bay, Taft said.

Contestants from more than 40 countries, ranging in age from 16 to 76 years old, competed, including physically challenged competitors from the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Finishing second and third among the men were Bevan Docherty, of New Zealand, with a time of 2:04:59, and Josh Amberger, of Australia, at 2:08:37.

For the women, Mirinda Carfrae of Australia, captured second place at 2:18:05 and Ricarda Lisk, of Germany, was third stopping at 2:18:52.

© Copyright 2014 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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