CLERMONT, Fla. — In the opening event of the 2011 USA Triathlon Elite Race Series, U.S. Olympians Sarah Haskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Jarrod Shoemaker (Maynard, Mass.) claimed the first-ever USA Triathlon Elite Sprint National Championship titles as the top American finishers Saturday here at Lake Louisa State Park.

Also a sprint-distance ITU Pan American Cup, the event featured an international field with Great Britain’s Helen Jenkins and Greg Rouault of France placing first overall in the women’s and men’s races, respectively. With their wins Saturday, Jenkins and Rouault sit atop the USA Triathlon Elite Race Series standings after the first of six events.

Jenkins was the overall women’s winner in 55 minutes, 5 seconds over the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run course. Haskins finished as the runner-up and Elite Sprint National Champion in 55:53, while Gwen Jorgensen (Milwaukee, Wis.) ran her way to third in 55:57.

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