Triple Crown Report 1987

Here’s the 1987 Triple Crown. USTS Nationals in Hilton Head, Hawaii and Nice. Over a four week period. I’ve already looked at 1985 and 1986.

In 1986 monetary incentives payed by Ironman encouraged the pro-athletes to miss Nice and focus on Hawaii. But in 1987 Nice and Hawaii swapped race dates. 1987 was also the first season with aerobars.

Images: Triathlete (USA) January 1988

Hilton Head was won by Kirsten Hanssen and Mike Pigg. They were also the first winners of the Coke Red Jersey as overall USTS winners.

Note that British triathlete, and one of the San Diego training pioneers, Rick Kiddle finished second in the 20-24 age-group.

In Hawaii, Dave Scott won his 6th and final Ironman title. Erin Baker won her first of two. She would go on to win again in 1990.

Note that Britain’s Sarah Springman finished 5th. In 1991 Sarah Coope became the first British athlete to finish on the podium in Hawaii.

1987 was the first year that Mark Allen decided to focus purely on Hawaii and not go to Nice. He was helped in that decision by the date switch. The whole 1987 season is documented in his book, Total Triathlete.

Kirsten Hanssen and Rick Wells won the races in Nice. Video below. Note that Herve Nicquet got France’s first podium at the event.

So. Who had the most sucessful Triple Crown campaigns? Here are my picks:

• Kirsten Hanssen (1st in Hilton Head, 1st in Nice)

• Greg Stewart (3rd in Hawaii, 5th in Nice)

• Paula Newby-Fraser (3rd in Hawaii, 3rd in Nice)

• Scott Tinley (5th in Hilton Head, 6th in Hawaii, 2nd in Nice)

• Mike Pigg (1st in Hilton Head, 5th in Hawaii)

• Ken Glah (3rd in Hilton Head, 5th in Hawaii, 10th in Nice)