In 2007, the first Hy-Vee ITU World Cup was held in Downtown Des Moines winding up the front of the Iowa State Capitol drawing more than 2,000 Elite and age-group athletes to participate. The event raised $250,000 for charity as Rasmus Henning of Denmark and Laura Bennett of USA took home the inaugural titles.
Two months prior to the Beijing Olympic Games, the US qualifying event for the games was held at West Des Moines, the site of the 2008 edition of the race. Due to terrible flooding in Des Moines area it was situated seven miles outside the State Capitol. Henning won the men’s competition for the second time while Emma Snowsill took the women’s top awards and win the gold in Beijing. Top finishers for the USA were Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins earning slots to the Beijing Olympic Triathlon.
In the 2009 competition showcased the most thrilling race ever,…
