Macca Vs. Collegians: Avia Wildflower Olympic Triathlon

Macca strolling down the finish line.

Macca has four Wildflower Long Course titles, but he raced the Olympic distance this year to keep his legs fresh for next week's ITU WTS race in San Diego, where he hopes to strengthen his case for one of Australia's Olympic slots.

Hundreds of collegians followed McCormack into Lake San Antonio, including athletes from UCSD, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Oregon State and others.

Volunteers helps the athletes get ready for the race.

The swim course is one big loop through beautiful Lake San Antonio.

Five collegiate athletes including Thomas Roos of Stanford came out of the water ahead of McCormack.

Macca elected to swim without a cap or goggles.

William Jones of UCSD was one of the first athletes up Lynch hill.

Macca quickly moved through the younger athletes on the bike.

Jones gamely kept Macca in sight for several miles, but eventually the two-time Ironman world champ left him behind.

The rolling hills around Lake San Antonio are spectacular.

Roos on the way out to the turn-around.

Scott Kolofer of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is just up the road from the race site.

Macca tempered his effort to save his legs for next week's ITU event.

Jones spent a lot of the ride on his own with only McCormack in front of him.

Swiad Worms of University of Montana moved up on the bike.

Ecstatic volunteers staffed the aid tables.

Roos riding through an open field just before the turn-around.

Blair Bronson competing for Oregon State.

Hundreds of age groupers manned the course behind the fastest collegians.

Brittany Braden of Cal Poly.

Grant Rice from Colorado College.

Macca mimicking his "just taking it easy" elbow-on-the-armrest position he flashed en route to the 2010 Ironman world championship. He couldn't help but laugh.

Age groupers out on the course.

The hills are beautiful, but they hurt.

Jones powering back into T2.

Kolofer cresting the last big hill.

More age groupers enjoying the beautiful roads.

Lynch Hill greated the athletes straight out of T1.

Chris Fuentes heading out for the run.

The run starts on gently rolling hills.

The bigger hills come later in the race.

Running along Lake San Antonio.

Crossing ahead of the collegians.

William Jones won the collegiate competitor and got a congrats from Macca.

Bronson celebrating his fourth place finish.

Third place finisher Thomas Roos and many others cramped shortly after crossing the line.

Elizabeth Noey won the collegiate race for UCLA.

And after the race, participants and spectators lounged and enjoyed the scenery. Typical Wildflower.