Posted: September 24, 2005

Multisport: U.S. Team Heads Down Under for Duathlon

COLORADO SPRING, Colo. (Sept. 23, 2005) – Age group and elite duathletes take center stage on Sunday at the International Triathlon Union Duathlon World Championships in Newcastle, Australia.

The United States is sending a team of approximately 120 age groupers, eight elites and two juniors to compete against the finest duathletes in the world.

Both age groupers and elites will complete a 10k run, 40k bike and 5k run. However the elite race will be draft legal. Juniors will complete a 5k run, 20k bike and 2.5k run.

Among the former women's age group world duathlon medalists competing for the United States will be Beth Burchill (Rochester, N.Y.; 35-39 age group), Heather Leach (Seattle, Wash.; 45-49), Cheryl Hart (Louisville, Ky.; 50-54) and Pat Fossum (Montgomery, Ala.; 70-74). Also competing will be Christine Knight (Louisville, Colo.; 35-39), overall winner of the 2005 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships, and Kristin Villopoto (Chapel Hill, N.C.; 45-49), overall winner of the 2005 ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships.

Among the former men's age group world duathlon medalists to watch for are Sean Ion (Shippenville, Pa.; 25-29), Mike McCarty (New Bedford, Mass.; 60-64) and Ed Bixenstine (Kent, Ohio; 75-79). Also watch for long distance duathlon specialist John McGovern (Kingston, N.Y.; 40-44) and national duathlon champions Dale Lane (Candler, N.M.; 55-59) and Don Ardell (St. Petersburg, Fla.).

The elite team will consist of Jenifer Padilla (Tustin, Calif.), Kim Hager (The Woodlands, Texas), Tim Menoher (Erlanger, Ky.), Eric Schwartz (Boulder, Colo.), Jay Cech (Portland, Ore.), Lee Sossen (New York, N.Y.), Laura Bennett (North Palm Beach, Fla.) and Kathy Kasischke (San Diego, Calif.).

The junior team includes Denton Jones (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Andy Edick (Sumner, Wash.).

For a complete roster of the U.S. age group duathlon team, go to www.usatriathlon.org.