Posted: May 30, 2005

Triathlon: Four Canadian Triathletes on the Podium Over Holiday Long Weekend

Natasha Filliol winning 'Memphis in May' triathlon. Photo courtesy of www.competitionzone.com.

While much of Canada celebrated at the cottage, Canada's national triathlon team was hard at work in two of the continent's biggest triathlon races. Former Pan American Team member Natasha Filliol won the prestigious “Memphis in May” time trial triathlon in a near record time. Filliol covered the 1.5 km swim - 40km bike - 10km run in 2hrs 01 minute 32 seconds, nearly three minutes ahead of Americans Lauren Jensen (2:04:17) and Desiree Ficker (2:07:50).

On the men’s side, Canadian Jamie Cleveland also had a successful race with a third place finish behind Athens Olympian Andy Potts and former Hawaii Champion Tim DeBoom. Potts used his All American swimming abilities to get an early lead and never relinquished the front spot finishing in 1 hr 47 minutes and 02 seconds. Cleveland finished with a time of 1:51:01.

While Filliol and Cleveland were having success in the city made famous by Elvis Presley, a large delegation of Canada’s national team was in Tempe Arizona dealing with 104 degree heat and a world class race field.

The world's number one ranked man, American Hunter Kemper maintained that position with a great swim and the day's fastest run. Kemper covered the 1.5km swim - 40km bike and 10km run in 1 hr 51 minutes and 04 seconds, winning comfortably over US teammate Mark Fretta (1:51:32) and Australian Matt Murphy (1:52:21). Windsor Ontario's James Loaring finished 10th place and led a charge of four other Canadian men in the top 25 overall (Daniel Wells 15th, Sean Bechtel 17th, Aaron Webb 23rd and Travis Chater 24th).

Former world number one Barb Lindquist used her strong swim to full advantage. Getting out of the water with former US National Junior Champion Sara McLarty, the duo built up a nearly five minute lead by the end of the 1.5km swim and 40km bike. Lindquist cruised to victory over the 10km run while Canadians Lauren Groves and Carolyn Murray had the days fastest and second fastest run splits to place 2nd and third overall. Toronto's Ayesha Rollinson had her best ever International Performance in the desert heat placing 6th, followed by former Canadian National Team swimmer Christine Jeffrey in 7th.

Canada's national triathlon team are now currently in a hard training phase preparing themselves for major events around the world in June. The World will be coming to Canada in July for the Cornerbrook World Cup Triathlon July 17th, the Edmonton World Cup Triathlon July 23rd and the HSBC Caledon Pan American Cup Triathlon July 30th. All athletes are working towards making the World Championships set for September in Gamagori Japan and the 2006 Commonwealth Games Team set for March 2006 in Melbourne. For more information on the Canadian team see the website at www.triathloncanada.com

Memphis In May Triathlon - Memphis Tennesse(1.5 km Swim - 40km bike - 10km run)

Pro Men
1. Andy Potts           USA         1:47:02
2. Tim DeBoom           USA         1:48:55
3. Jamie Cleveland      CAN         1:52:01
4. Trenton Tollakson    USA         1:52:54
5. Haven Barnes         USA         1:53:51

Pro Women
1. Nastasha Filliol     CAN         2:01:32
2. Lauren Jensen        USA         2:04:17
3. Desiree Ficker       USA         2:07:50
4. Deanna Frank         USA         2:10:53
5. Meredith Novack      USA         2:30:52

Tempe Arizona International Triathlon(1.5 km Swim - 40km bike - 10km run)

Pro Men 
1 Hunter Kemper         Usa         1:51:04 
2 Mark Fretta          Usa         1:51:32
3 Matt Murphy          Aus         1:52:21 
4 Doug Friman           Usa         1:52:22 
5 Jarrod Shoemaker      Usa         1:52:41 

Other Canadians
10 James Loaring        Can         1:55:18 
15 Daniel Wells         Can         1:58:39 
17 Sean Bechtel         Can         1:59:00 
23 Aaron Webb           Can         2:01:39 
24 Travis Chater        Can         2:04:12

Pro Women
1  Barb Lindquist       Usa         2:03:52 
2  Lauren Groves        Can         2:08:43 
3  Carolyn Murray       Can         2:10:34 
Other Canadians
6  Ayesha Rollinson     Can         2:12:00 
7  Christine Jeffrey    Can         2:12:10
18 Genevieve Pellerin   Can         2:21:42