Posted: June 26, 2007

Triathlon: Competition will be Fierce at Age Group National Championship

Event in Portland to pit top amateur triathletes in the country PORTLAND, Oregon (June 26, 2007) -- High school state track, swimming, and cross country champions. College All-Americans. Olympic Trials competitors. The résumés of the competitors at this weekend's USA Triathlon's Age Group National Championship at Hagg Lake outside Portland, Oregon reads like a "Who's Who" of amateur athletics. Each year, this hallmark event in intermediate distance triathlon (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) brings together more than 1,000 athletes aiming for national titles in their respective age groups. This year's field of 1,350 features the top 5 percent of triathletes competing at this distance in the United States. Among that stellar list is a select few who have a legitimate chance to capture the event's overall title. Look for the following split times out of these spectacular athletes: 1.5k Swim: 19 minuntes for men; 21 minutes for women 40k Bike: 60 minutes for men; 67 minutes for women 10k Run: 36 minutes for men; 40 minutes for women Who will win it all? Odds are the overall male and female winners will come from the list below. The list includes USAT All-Americans, previous national and world champions, and athletes who have won amateur titles at major triathlons across the country. But as has been the case in the past, someone new to the sport may come from nowhere and surprise everyone. Men's Favorites Ben Collins, 25, Lake Forest, Wash. Michael Boehmer, 28, Oconomowa, Wis. Curt Wood, 29, Chaska, Minn. Chuck Sloan, 30, Oklahoma City, Okla. JJ Bailey, 33, Des Moines, Iowa Jeremiah Mushen, 31, Seattle, Wash. Craig Greenslit, 37, Berthoud, Colo. Kirk Framke, 33, Denver, Colo. Mark Harms, 32, Madison, Wis. Chris Martin, 31, Lawrenceville, N.J. Jason Schott, 36, Atlanta, Ga. John Reback, 37, N. Palm Beach, Fla. Jeff Smith, 26, Sandpoint, Idaho Steve Johnson, 31, Chicago, Ill. Patrick Baldwin, 31, Del Mar, Calif. Doug Clark, 39, Morristown, N.J. Matt Berg, 35, Milwaukie, Ore. Women's Favorites Jennifer Garrison, 29, Naperville, Ill. Rachel Ross, 31, Honolulu, Hawaii Shannon Donley, 36, Anchorage, Alaska Stacey Richardson, 35, Chapel Hill, N.C. Kiera Karas, 31, Columbus, Ohio Jeannie Samson, 38, Austin, Texas Holly Nybo, 45, Portolo Valley, Calif. Jenny Fletcher, 32, Long Island, N.Y. Elizabeth Fedofsky, 32, Lisle, Ill. Alicia Parr, 37, Durham, N.C. Lori Deschamps, 37, Anchorage, Alaska Caroline Smith, 36, Maudeville, La. Tracy Orcutt, 41, Seattle, Wash. Kathy Winkler, 41, Mill Valley, Calif. Visit the event website for more information and a complete list of participants. USATriathlon.org. About USA Triathlon USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,000 races and connects with more than 90,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. Website: USATriathlon.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest