Challenge Knoxville – race gallery

May 7, 2021

The Challenge Family Americas season kicked-off with Challenge Knoxville last weekend at the site of the 1982 World’s Fair Park in Tennessee.

After being subjected to days of southern humidity and heat in pre-race week, athletes were greeted with rain-soaked skies on the Sunday morning as they waited on the banks of the mighty Tennessee River for the 1.5km and 1.9km swim starts.

In the Half Distance pro race where athletes vied for a 25k Euro prize purse, the victory was a repeat of sorts for winner Cameron Dye, as the Boulder, Colorado, native is a former champion of the Rev3 Olympic Distance Triathlon, the prior pro race contested on this course.

In the women’s race, American Lesley Smith used a never-give-up attitude to come from behind, running her way through the pack nearly seven minutes faster than any other female to nab the lead within the last few hundred yards ahead of Canada’s Rachel McBride.