Posted: May 10, 2006

Triathlon: Dallam, Lange Named 2005 USA Triathlon Coaches Of The Year

Colorado Springs, Colorado (May 10, 2006) - The USA Triathlon National Coaching Commission has selected Dr. George Dallam as the 2005 USAT National Coach of the Year and Hank Lange as the 2005 USAT Developmental Coach of the Year. These coaches are the USA Triathlon nominees for the United States Olympic Committee Coach of the Year awards.

Dallam, of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the long time coach of elite national team triathlete and two-time Olympian Hunter Kemper. In 2005, Kemper held the International Triathlon Union No.1 World Cup ranking for the entire season with World Cup wins in Mazatlan, Mexico and on the Olympic course in Beijing, China. Kemper also won the prestigious Escape from Alcatraz triathlon and captured his fifth U.S. Professional National Championship. Dr. Dallam is currently a professor at University of Colorado, Pueblo.

Lange, of Brattleboro, Vt., is the coach responsible for the development of the 2005 Under 23 World Champion triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker. Lange has mentored Shoemaker for many years and in 2005 their relationship took the young triathlete to the next level. As a member of the USAT Under 23 National Squad, Shoemaker competed as an elite and placed fifth at the Tempe ITU Continental Cup triathlon, won the New York City ITU Continental Cup triathlon over a very talented field, placed seventh in the Tiszaujvaros ITU World Cup, and finished off his season with a gold medal at the ITU Under 23 World Triathlon Championships. Shoemaker is racing the 2006 season as a member of the USA Triathlon National Elite Silver Team. Lange continues to coach Shoemaker and a number of amateur athletes in Vermont.

The National Coach of the Year represents a coach of an elite level club, collegiate, Pan Am, world championship, or Olympic games coach or the coach of an elite athlete who competes at the highest levels of their sport. The Developmental Coach of the Year goes to a coach of a youth club, high school or junior level athlete or a coach directly responsible for coaching athletes to the national or elite level.

The USA Triathlon National Coaching Commission is made up of some of the finest multi-sport coaches in the world. They volunteer their time and knowledge for the sport, the athletes and the coaches. The mission of the National Coaching Commission is to promote professionalism in multi-sport coaching and advise USAT staff regarding coach education.

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 1,800 races and connects with more than 60,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world.

Visit USA Triathlon’s web site at .

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