Posted: June 21, 2005

Triathlon: "Best Of The US" Rolls On

(St. Pul, MN - 6/20/05) June 18-19 was a busy weekend for the "Best of the US Amateur Triathlete Competition." Eight states crowned champions. Below is a rundown of the weekend's action.

POTSANDER & DONLEY WIN "BEST OF.." ALASKA!

Congratulations to Anchorage's Jason Potsander & Shannon Donley on their convincing wins at the Moose Nugget/Best of the US Alaska Qualifier. Potsander's margin of victory was 1:42; Donley's was 6:32.

ALASKA STATE CHAMPIONS: Jason Potsander, 28, Anchorage & Shannon Donley, 33, Anchorage. #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Jason Lamoreaux, 26, Anchorage & Kelly Quinn, 21, Wasilla. #2 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Seth Downs, 35, Anchorage & Amy Owens, 32, Anchorage. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Bruce Miller, 38, Fairbanks & Jenny Kimball, 34, Anchorage. #4 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Rick Rogers, 47, Anchorage & Suzanne Wheatall, 43, Anchorage.

For Moose Nugget results, visit www.moosenuggettri.com.

NAHORN, THOMAS & HIRSCH HEAD FOR NEW HAMPSIRE!

The Pat Griskus Olympic Triathlon in Middlebury, CT on June 18 served as the "Best of the US" qualifier for both Connecticut and Rhode Island. Michael Nahom & Patsy Thomas took the CT slots. John Hirsh was the top Rhode Islander.

CONNECTICUT STATE CHAMPIONS: Michael Nahon, 37, New Milford & Patsy Thomas, 45, Windsor. #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Christopher Thomas, 33, Fairfield & Karen Newman, 44, Old Greenwich. #2 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Peter Daly, 35, Cheshire & Julie Gleising, 18, Redding. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Milos Janicek, 25, West Hartford & Diana Mann, 34, Cheshire. #4 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Gabriel Jiran, 33, West Hartford & Deborah Cashin, 34, Cheshire.

RHODE ISLAND STATE CHAMPION: John Hirsch, 30, Rhode Island. #1 PASS-DOWN: Jeremy Palac, 24, Coventry.

For Pat Griskus Olympic Triathlon results, visit plattsys.com/results/res2005/griso05.htm.

WATERSTRAAT & NEWMAN ARE ILLINOIS' BEST!

Christian Watersraat & Shannon Nelson were the top resident finishers at the Ironhorse Quartermax Triathlon/Best of the US Illinois Qualifier in Springfield on June 19.

ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPIONS: Christian Waterstraat, 31, Lisle & Shannon Newman, 32, Champaign. #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Jeremy Borling, 25, Chicago & Kim Genenbacher, 37, Decatur. #2 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Andre Bennatan, 46, Lake Forest & Lisa Battalini, 33, Chicago. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Ben Goldman, 27, Chicago & Margaret Watson, 20, Crete. #4 PASS-DOWN: Kyle May, 30, Decatur & Patty Shafer, 48, Springfield.

For Ironhorse Quartermax results, visit www.onlineraceresults.com.

MARTIN & DONOHUE PREVAIL AT NEW JERSEY QUALIFIER!

Christopher Martin, 29, of Princeton Junction, and Kirsten Donohue, 37, of Cape May Court were the top New Jersey finishers at the Escape From Fort Delaware/Best of the US New Jersey Qualifier on June 18. Martin, Honorable Mention USAT Triathlete of the Year in 2004, relied on a supersonic bike split to separate himself from the men's field. He was fifth amateur/12th overall at the Eagleman Half IM the previous weekend.

Escape From Fort Delaware also hosted the "Best of the US.." Delaware Qualifier. Top spots were earned by Michael Clark, 49, and Marianne Moore, 51, both of Wilmington.

NEW JERSEY STATE CHAMPIONS: Christopher Martin, 29, Princeton Junction & Kirsten Donahue, 37, Cape May Court. #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Steven back, 22, Cherry Hill & Michelle Fontana, 38, Princeton. #2 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Jeff Gervasi, 34, Sewell & Lynn Tyrrell, 29, Cranberry. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Scott Ward, 33, Delran & Karen Borchert-Stengle, 39, Princeton. #4 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Robert Greaves, 42, Old Bridge & Jennifer reagen, 34, Marlton.

DELAWARE STATE CHAMPIONS: Michael Clark, 49, Wilmington & Marianne Moore, 51, Wilmington. #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Paul Schlosser, 50, Newark & Kym Staudt, 42, Hockessin. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Michael MCKenzie, 30, Hockessin & Emily Salmons, 42, Wilmington. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOT: Frank McGurk, 31, Neward. #4 PASS-DOWN SLOT: John Snyder, 35, Middleton.

Escape From Fort Delaware results can be found at www.lin-mark.com.

OURY & SEIFERT ARE "BEST OF.." BIG SKY COUNTRY!

With their victories at the Janet Clarkson Memorial Triathlon/Best of the US Montana Qualifier, Jeremy Oury, 41, of Hamilton, and 5-time All American Ann Seifert, 48, of Clancy have been invited to represent Montana at the "Best of the US Championship" in August.

MONTANA STATE CHAMPIONS: Jeremy Oury, 41, Hamilton & Ann Seifert, 48, Clancy #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Dan Heil, 38, Bozeman & Laura Morin, 22, Helena. #2 PASS-DOWN: Mark Shepard, 37, West Yellowstone & Emily Herndon, 26, Missoula. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOT: Evan Eck, 18, Helena & Brandy Ladd, 30, Big Sky. #4 PASS-DOWN: Ben Scott, 32, Lewistown & Laura Buck, 45, Choteau.

Visit www.janetstriathlon.com for results.

BECKER & BANNINK ADVANCE!

Cynthia Bannink, 2004 nominee for Minnesota Triathlete of the Year and Most Improved, is now building her reputaion in her adoptive Wisconsin. On Sunday, June 19, she won the Wisconsin Triterium/Best of the US Wisconsin Qualifier, thus earning an invitation, and a $200 travel stipend, courtesy of event management, to the "Best of the US Championship" in Gilford, New Hampshire on August 20. The men's winner was rising star Blake Becker of Stevens Point. Amazingly, Becker placed 8th the previous weekend at the Eagleman Half Ironman in Cambridge, MD.

WISCONSIN STATE CHAMPIONS: Blake Becker, 23, Stevens Point & Cynthia Bannink, 28, Madison #1 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Michael Meteyer, 45, Madison & Heather Curnutt, 31, Madison. #2 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Michael Boehmer, 26, Delafield & Jaime Kulbel, 28, Madison. #3 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Chris Wichert, 21, Milwaukee & Lisa Johnson, 39, West Bend. #4 PASS-DOWN SLOTS: Jeffrey Fleig, 35, Onalaska & Cheryl Ramancionis, 27, Madison.

Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon results can be forund at www.onlineraceresults.com.

NEW HAMPSHIRE BOUND!

Congratulations to the following athletes, who have earned the right to represent their respective states at the "Best of the US Championship" in Gilford, NH on August 20:

HAWAII: Peter Hursty (32, Honolulu) & Bree Myers (24, Kailua-Kona)
NEVADA: Mike Scarborough (45, Reno) & Cynthia Platko (35, Las Vegas)
UTAH: Rich Hurd (40, Ivins) & Sara Watchorn (24, Sandy)
FLORIDA: John Reback (35, North Palm Beach) & Lotte Branigan (30, Vero Beach)
NORTH CAROLINA: Brian Smith (32, Durham) & Sian Hunter (38, North Carolina)
SOUTH CAROLINA: Brooks Keys (24, Central) & Michelle Stone (32, Spartanburg)
MARYLAND: Anthony Van Lierop (31, Baltimore) & Connie Chow Dowler (30, Kensington)
VIRGINIA: Michael Harlow (23, Richmond) & Margaret Shapiro (28, Annandale)
ARIZONA: Dameon Hahn (27, Tempe) & Erica Jones-McClurg (34, Phoenix)
MISSISSIPPI: Chuck Engel (34, Jackson) & Cathy Henderson (32, Flowood)
NEW MEXICO: Clay Moseley (35, Los Alamos) & Elizabeth Wiedling (27, Rio Rancho)
IOWA: Mike Morrison (31, Urbandale) & Mia Richter (23, Iowa City)
NEBRASKA: Dave Bracken (36, Omaha) & Carol Smolsky (45, Papillion)
LOUISIANA: Brett Reagan (34, New Orleans) & Nicola Appleton (33, Vinton)
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Ryan Kelly (23, Concord) & Randy Swormstedt (34, Laconia)
MASSACHUSETTS: David Kane (34, Watertown) & Julie Jones (30, Watertown)
VERMONT: John Spinney (29, Waterbury) & Angie DeFilippi (28, South Burlington)
MAINE: Stephen Judice (37, Sanford) & Kim Cole (48, Kennebunk)
IDAHO: Kevin Everett (30, Boise) & Leigh Morse (42, Boise)
MICHIGAN: Matt Wehrman (26, Birmingham) & Karen McKeachie (52, Ann Arbor)
ALABAMA: Morgan Ramey (36, Helena) & Lori Goldweber (41, Homewood)
OKLAHOMA: Greg Rouault (24, Tulsa) & Dana Chance (36, Tulsa)
ARKANSAS: Christopher Reynolds (36, Hot Springs)
MONTANA: Jeremy Oury (41, Hamilton) & Ann Seifert (48, Clancy)
WISCONSIN: Blake Becker (23, Stevens Point) & Cynthia Bannink (28, Madison)
ALASKA: Jason Potsander (28, Anchorage) & Shannon Donley (33, Anchorage)
NEW JERSEY: Christopher Martin (29, Princeton Junction) & Kristen Donohue (37, Cape May Court)
DELAWARE: Michael Clark (49, Wilmington) & Marianne Moore (51, Wilmington)
ILLINOIS: Christian Waterstraat (31, Lisle) & Shannon Newman (32, Champaign)
CONNECTICUT: Mike Nahom (37, New Milford) & Patsy Thomas (45, Windsor)
RHODE ISLAND: John Hirsch (31, Block Island)

For additional information on the "Best of the US Amateur Triathlete Competition," contact Jerry at 651-714-1829 or jerry@midwestevents.com.