Making the victory, which included a $3,000 prize for first place, all the more sweet was the fact it was held in Geneva, just a couple of hours from Cooperstown.

The race was called the Musselman ITU Continental Cup, and Groff won with a time of exactly two hours.

Groff is one of six women who have qualified to compete in the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany later this month, and will compete in the Beijing World Cup in September.

Groff hopes to earn a spot on the triathlon team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the Beijing World Cup is one of three U.S. Olympic Trial races.

Groff said racing close to home was special as she spends so much time on the road.

``I was able to combine the race with a trip home and a mini-family reunion, as my parents, Uncle Rich and grandfather came up to watch me race,’’ Groff, 24, said. ``My very busy brother (Adam) was also able to come to Cooperstown after the race, so I was well surrounded by Groff men.

``The race was important to me, as I placed first in what is as close to a hometown ITU race as I will ever experience. The race was also part of the Haul to the Great Wall series and my finish brought me to second place in the rankings.’’

``Sarah was excited about coming home to race,’’ said race director Jeff Henderson, noting that this is the only ITU series race on the east coast; the other four are in Honolulu, Hawaii; Longmont, Colo.; Des Moines, Iowa; and San Francisco, Calif.

``The ITU Pan American Cup series is the pipeline to the Olympics for top triathletes. ``We expected top-caliber athletes to come to New York for this, and we weren’t disappointed.’’