Three U.S. Athletes Finish in Top 10 at Junior World Championships in Hamburg

HAMBURG, Germany – Three U.S. Junior triathletes finished in the top 10 on Thursday, July 13 at the 2023 World Triathlon Junior World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. Reese Vannerson (Richmond, Texas), Carter Stuhlmacher (Kailua, Hawaii) and Luke Anthony (East Lyme, Conn.) all finished within 4 seconds of each other to secure the top-three finishes among the eight U.S. Junior athletes racing.  

As part of the Sprint and Relay World Championships in Hamburg this weekend, the Junior World Championship event had the up-and-coming triathletes take on a sprint course featuring a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run.  

Setting the pace together on the run, Vannerson got the final edge for the U.S. trio and crossed the line first for the U.S., placing sixth overall in a time of 51 minutes, 36 seconds. Vannerson competed at the Junior World Championships last year in Montreal and earned the bronze medal. 

Following just a second behind was Stuhlmacher, who claimed the seventh position in 51:37, while Anthony joined shortly after to take eighth (51:40).  

Vannerson, Stuhlmacher and Anthony are members of USA Triathlon’s elite development training squad, Project Podium, which is based in Tempe, Arizona, at Arizona State University. Sullivan Middaugh (Eagle-Vail, Colo.), also a member of Project Podium, also competed in the men’s race and placed 44^th in a time of 53:07. Middaugh is the son of longtime professional off-road triathlete and XTERRA world champion, Josiah Middaugh.  

Faith Dasso (New Braunfels, Texas) secured the top result in the women’s race for the U.S. She maintained a solid position through the swim, bike and run to finish 13^th with a time of 58:18.  

Dasso is a sophomore at Arizona State University and a member of the Sun Devils triathlon team that won the NCAA Division I national championship last year.  

The 2022 Junior USA National Champion, Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.) — also a Sun Devil triathlete — placed 28^th with a time of 59:49.  

The final finisher for the U.S. in the women’s event was Clara James-Heer (Grand Rapids, Mich.). She placed 40^th overall with a time of 1:01:20, in her first World Championship event. 

Full recaps can be watched on demand on Triathlonlive.tv. 

2023 World Triathlon Junior World Championship Hamburg 
750m swim | 20k bike | 5k run 

Junior Women’s Podium - Complete Results
1. Ilona Hadhoum (FRA), 56:47 
2. Jimena Renata De La Peña Schott (MEX), 56:54 
3. Manon Laporte (FRA), 57:02 

U.S. Junior Women Finishers 
13. Faith Dasso (New Braunfels, Texas), 58:18 
28. Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.), 59:49 
40. Clara James-Heer (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 1:01:20 

Junior Men’s Podium - Complete Results
1. João Nuno Batista (POR), 51:11 
2. Nils Serre Gehri (FRA), 51:14 
3. Mathis Beaulieu (CAN), 51:16 

U.S. Junior Men Finishers 
6. Reese Vannerson (Richmond, Texas), 51:36 
7. Carter Stuhlmacher (Kailua, Hawaii), 51:37  
8. Luke Anthony (East Lyme, Conn.), 51:40  
44. Sullivan Middaugh (Eagle-Vail, Colo.), 53:07