Oliver Hayward and Erica Hawley showcased strong performances to win the adult individual sprint races at the Cambridge Beaches Triathlon.
Hayward, who recently finished eighth at the World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Spain, crossed the finish line first in 58 minutes, 4 seconds. Hawley followed in 1:00:19, marking her first competition since the Paris Olympics.
In the men’s race, Jake Smith took second, while Kevin Ronaldson placed third. For the women, Maddie Durkin came in second, with Lynsey Palmer securing third.
Hayward expressed excitement at finishing ahead of Hawley, as the two had been closely matched for much of the race. “It was really exciting to finish ahead of Erica,’’ the 16-year-old told The Royal Gazette. “It’s always nice to get those little achievements. It was a really enjoyable race and I enjoyed the swim. I was out of the water with Erica and one of the relay teams.”
He added, “It was rough racing out on the road on the bike, but it was nice to race in areas like Dockyard. It feels nice to be comfortable in a race, and it’s really rewarding going into the winter. The competition was really good, I never had any dull moments. I never took any rest because I knew the other competitors were right behind me.”
Hawley, competing in her first Bermuda race since the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series, also enjoyed being back on home soil. “I just wanted to have fun out there in a no-pressure situation,’’ she said. “I knew Ollie was going to be hard to beat since he did well at the World Championships. I’m not really used to actually doing 20km on the bike, so this was kind of a shock to my body.”
Reflecting on her performance, she noted, “The bike was super fun, and we don’t normally get a chance to race on this side of the island. On the run, it was actually kind of hilly. I just tried to maintain the gap between Ollie and I, and run the best way I could. It was nice to come home and get some kind of redemption after I crashed in 2022. To come back and make the most of this race was good.”
Hawley also highlighted the unique experience of competing alongside Olympian Tyler Smith, who participated in the bike leg of a relay team with his parents. “Tyler went past me in the latter stages of the bike race right over the bridge,” she said. “I knew I couldn’t even try to keep up with him. It was really special for both of us to be back here, and the fact that he could do a relay with his family was really great.”
Hayward, currently a student at Uppingham School in England, was pleased to end his racing season on a high note. “Spain was the main focus, I had an easy preparation coming into this race as I kept things light,’’ he said. “The season is over for me, this was the last race until the British races start in February. My future in the sport really depends on what happens in the next few years. I’m planning to go to the World Championships again next year and to a few American races.”
Tyler Smith, about to join the Bermuda cycling team in Guyana, expressed satisfaction with his relay performance, especially considering his Achilles injury. “I was really happy that I was able to do a team relay with my family even with my Achilles injury,’’ the 26-year-old remarked. “It was tougher just doing the bike because it’s 30 minutes, and you have to go all out for it. On the last lap of the bike, I gave everything that I had to hand over to my mum to finish things off with a run.”
The Cambridge Beaches owner, Phil Hospod, who participated and placed 40th overall, spoke about his ambition to see the event grow. “It’s exciting to see the community come together,’’ Hospod commented. “When you see a sporting event with different age groups and spectators coming together, it’s very uplifting. We are hoping to make this part of the regular schedule. If we can get more locals to participate, but also more international tourists to come and enjoy the beauty that is Bermuda.”
