Triathlon: USA Triathlon Announces 2003 Age Group Athletes of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 16, 2004) - USA Triathlon has announced its 2003 age group athletes of the year.

John Reback and Linda Gallo were named age group triathletes of the year and Jonathan Hastings and Mary Dunn were named age group duathletes of the year.

Reback (33, North Palm Beach, Fla.) was the overall men's winner at the 2003 USA Triathlon Age Group Triathlon National Championships on Oct. 4 in Shreveport, La. He also won his age group at the Gulf Coast Triathlon and the USAT World's Qualifier in Menomonie, Wis.

Gallo (27, Sunnyvale, Calif.) was the first age group finisher at Ironman Hawaii in 2003 and was the overall winner at the USAT World's Qualifier in Menomonie, Wis. Gallo finished fifth in her age group at the 2003 International Triathlon Union (ITU) Triathlon World Championships on Dec. 7 in New Zealand.

Hastings (29, Grove City, Ohio) finished first overall at the 2003 USA Triathlon Age Group Duathlon National Championships on June 22 in Alpharetta, Ga. Hastings went on to finish third in his age group at the International Triathlon Union World Duathlon Championships in Affoltern, Switzerland. He was the sixth age group finisher overall.

Dunn (52, Cheshire, Conn.) won her age group at the 2003 age group duathlon national championships and was the fifth woman overall. She was first in her age group and fourth overall among women at Powerman Alabama. Dunn was the first woman and fourth overall finisher at the Bethany Harvest Duathlon.

The other age groupers of the year and their 2003 accomplishments are:

Triathlon Male Master of the Year: Jeff Cuddeback (45, Longwood, Fla.)

First overall at the USAT Long Course National Championship in Muncie, Ind.
First finisher over 40 at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in record-setting time.

Triathlon Female Master of the Year: Holly Nybo (41, Portola Valley, Calif.)
First in her age group and second overall at world's qualifier in Menomonie, Wis.
First in her age group and fourth overall at the ITU Triathlon World Championships in New Zealand

Triathlon Male Grand Master of the Year: Jon Adamson (66, Alpharetta, Ga.)
First in his age group at the USAT triathlon national championships in Shreveport, La.
Second in his age group at the triathlon world championships in New Zealand
First in his age group at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii

Triathlon Female Grand Master of the Year: Jan Miller (65, Marana, Ariz.)
First in her age group at the USAT triathlon national championships in Shreveport, La.
First in her age group at the triathlon world championships in New Zealand

Triathlon Male Junior of the Year: Chris Stehula (19, San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
Finished first in 18-19 age group in USA Triathlon draft-legal race series
First U.S. finisher and 28th in his age group at the triathlon world championships in New Zealand

Triathlon Female Junior of the Year: Jenna Yeakel (16, Canton, Ohio)
First in her age group at the USA Triathlon Junior National Championships in Michigan
First U.S. finisher and 21st in her age group at the triathlon world championships in New Zealand

Duathlon Female Master of the Year: Sue Davis (41, Costa Mesa, Calif.)
First female finisher overall at the DANNON Duathlon in Lake Pleasant, Ariz
First female finisher overall at the USAT Duathlon National Championships in Alpharetta, Ga.

Duathlon Male Master of the Year: Derek Hager (42, Minneapolis, Minn.)
First place master at the USAT duathlon national championships in Alpharetta, Ga.
First place master at the DANNON Duathlon race in Carlsbad, Calif.
First place master at the Apple Duathlon in Sartell, Minn.

Duathlon Male Grand Master of the Year: Don Ardell (65, Tampa, Fla.)
First place in his age group at the USAT duathlon national championships in Alpharetta, Ga.
First place in his age group at the Apple Duathlon in Sartell, Minn.
First place in his age group at DANNON Duathlon in Grenelefe, Fla.

Duathlon Female Grand Master of the Year: Ann Erickson (61, The Woodlands, Texas)
Finished season ranked first among duathletes in her age group in USA Triathlon national rankings
First place in her age group at the Frost Yer Fanny Duathlon
Eighth overall among women at the Blue Norther Duathlon

Duathlon Male Junior of the Year: Matthew Coy (19, Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Third place among junior males at the Alpharetta ITU Duathlon World Cup
Third U.S. finisher and 23rd overall among junior males at the ITU Duathlon World Championships in Affoltern, Switzerland

Duathlon Female Junior of the Year: Bethany Fortuna (18, Aurora, Ind.)
Finished season ranked first among duathletes in her age group in USA Triathlon national rankings
Finished first in her age group at Buffalo Trails Duathlon