A sold-out field of athletes plunged into 74-degree Pacific waters off the Hermosa Beach Pier on Sunday, Aug. 9, for the 35th annual Hermosa Beach Triathlon, a sprint-distance race that has sold out every year since 2018.
The USA Triathlon-sanctioned event sent competitors ages 14 to 84 through a quarter-mile ocean swim, a 10-mile flat bike course and a 3-mile run along the Hermosa Beach Strand, with the first wave hitting the water at 7 a.m.
Warm ocean conditions made for fast swimming. Participant Jamie Haggarty noted on Instagram that the 74-degree water meant no wetsuit was necessary:
"Great day participating in the Hermosa Beach Triathlon. 74-degrees in the Pacific so no need for my wet suit and perfect for breaking out the boogie board!"
Race organizers posted on Instagram after the event, thanking athletes, volunteers, sponsors and spectators and calling it an epic race day. The post noted competitors ranged from 14 to 84 years old.
Another participant described the morning as a family affair:
"This one was special because I had my whole family here. Had a great day at the beach afterwards. Fun little race."
The race featured divisions for individual age groups starting at 14–17, plus Clydesdale (men over 200 pounds), Athena (women over 165 pounds), mountain bike, relay and ParaTriathlete categories, with awards going to the top five finishers in each group. The awards ceremony followed at 9:45 a.m.
Libertana served as presenting sponsor, with XTERRA Wetsuits and Sports Basement of Hawthorne also backing the event. Packet pickup took place Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Sports Basement location on Hindry Avenue in Hawthorne.
Official race results, including top finishers and age-group winners, had not been posted to the race website as of Sunday evening. As we reported Aug. 6, the triathlon returned this year after selling out for the eighth consecutive year.
Upcoming community events across the South Bay:
- Wednesday, Aug. 12: Volunteers prep 13 school gardens across Beach Cities
- Sunday, Oct. 11: XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon (next regional triathlon)
