Photos: Nautica South Beach Triathlon

Your elite female podium. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

The elite men and women made a mad dash for the water. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Transition opened promptly at 5:30AM, which made for some dark body marking. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Early morning transition prep is better with a head light. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Transition lined Lummus Park. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

USAT officials where on hand checking helmet certification. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Just before the pre-sunrise start this athlete loosens up. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

A.J. Baucco put on his goggles and his game face, t-minus one minute to start. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Dustin McLarty led the swim and Javier Gomez out of the water to T1. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Bevan Docherty had a good swim. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Gasping for air this athlete gets all they can before heading into T1. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Sara McLarty was first out of the water with Haskins right on her heals. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Sarah Gray heads along the waterway early on the bike. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Sarah Haskins led pretty much the entire time passing over causeway after causeway. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Alicia Kaye comes off the causeway. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

A small group, which included Bevan Docherty, crests a causeway. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Javier Gomez road the entire bike in third position. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Cameron Dye tried to catch Ben Collins, but despite the effort Ben lead the entire bike leg. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Dye exits the causeway heading back to South Beach and T2. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Gomez looked very strong on the bike leg. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Haskins was first into T2 and never looked back. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Alicia Kaye runs the boardwalk course. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Annabel Luxford looked good early on the run. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Tourists joined the athletes along South Beach. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Lummus park provided a great venue for the athletes and spectators. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Javier Gomez wins the 2012 Nautica South Beach Triathlon, which is the series opener for The Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Winning took quite a bit out of Gomez. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Collins had a spectacular race, but couldn't hold off Gomez or his disappointment. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Ben finds the time to give a post-race interview. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Sarah Haskins wins the 2012 Nautica South Beach Triathlon, which is the series opener for the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Sarah Haskins gives post-race interview and is all smiles. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Gracious in her win and able to accommodate a young volunteer's desire for an autograph. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Around 3000 athletes finished after the elites. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

D'Ann Arthur comes off the boardwalk and into the finish. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Ben refueling with Zico coconut water after his stellar second place finish. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

When in South Beach, you get bikini clad women to medal every finisher. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Actor Geoff Stults had a strong race and finished with tons of crowd support. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Cutting through the beach brush this athlete gives a final push for the finish. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Nautica South Beach Tri brings out the celebrities, which in turn brings out the paparazzi. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Sand castles are common place. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

The kids tot trot was very competitive up front. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

And towards the back were proud parents who had just finished competing. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Bob Saget was on hand to support St. Jude and to emcee. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Your elite male podium. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

The race and its sponsors raised over $400,000 for St. Judes Children's Research Hospital. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)

Auto Trader brought in an additional $41,000 for St. Judes. (Photo: Nils Nilsen)