More than 1,000 competitors to race at Hagg Lake, Oregon venue
HAGG LAKE, Oregon (September 18, 2008) -- With more than 1,000 of the top amateur triathletes in the country set to compete, the 26th installment of the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championship is gearing up to be one of the most competitive events in recent years.
The race is set for Saturday morning (first wave starts at 7:15 a.m.) at Henry Hagg Lake, just outside Portland, Ore. It's the second year in a row the 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run event has been held at the picturesque venue.
Adding to the excitement for the age group athletes is the addition of the Elite National Championship to the race day schedule on Saturday afternoon - the first time in nearly a decade that the amateurs and professionals have raced at the same venue. Included in the elite start list of more than 50 athletes are all six members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team that competed at the Beijing Olympic Games in August. The Olympians will be holding an autograph and Q&A session during Friday's registration at the race venue.
For the age group competition, 16 national champions (out of 29 categories) return to race from 2007. Just one, Jan Miller of Green Valley, Ariz., is racing in a new age group in 2008. The rest are set to defend their 2007 titles.
Neither overall champion from 2007 is back (though men's champion Ben Collins of Seattle, Wash., will be racing in the elite race on Saturday), but the competition for the top spots will be hotly contested. Look for Eric Bell of Knoxville, Tenn., (25-29 age group) to have a strong race. Fresh off an overall world championship title in June, Bell will be challenged by 30-34 age grouper Curt Wood of Chaska, Minn. On the women's side, last year's 30-34 champion Rachel Ross of Honolulu, Hawaii, could vie for the top spot, but will be challenged by 30-34 age grouper Cathy Yndestad of St. Paul, Minn.
Though there are race favorites based on past results, anything can happen on race day. The sport is unpredictable and the championship is often the stage for little known competitors to make their marks on the multisport scene.
Here's the complete list of returning champions:
M30-34: Chuck Sloan (Oklahoma, Okla.) (1:57:34)
F30-34: Rachel Ross (Honolulu, Hawaii) (2:13:40)
M35-39: Craig Greenslit (Berthoud, Colo.) (1:58:56)
F35-39: Stacey Richardson (Chapel Hill, N.C.) (2:12:41)
M40-44: Brian Bich (Duluth, Minn.) (1:58:48) Male Master Champion
F45-49: Holly Nybo (Portola Valley, Calif.) (2:17:23)
F50-54: Bridget Dawson (Portland, Ore.) (2:22:57)
F55-59: Sandi Wiebe (Vancouver, Wash.) (2:38:27)
M60-64: Steven Smith (Granger, Ind.) (2:19:46) Male Grandmaster Champion
F60-64: Lauren Binder (Portland, Ore.) (2:38:05) Female Grandmaster Champion
F70-74: Jan Miller (Green Valley, Ariz.) (3:00:02) Raced in 65-69 age group in 2007
M70-74: Jon Adamson (Alpharetta, Ga.) (2:35:07)
F70-74: Susan Bradley Cox (Lexington, Ky.) (3:11:23)
F75-79: Madonna Buder (Spokane, Wash.) (3:50:37)
Clydesdale 39 and Under: Brandon Bartell (2:26:20)
Clydesdale 40 and Over: Mike Shaffer (Ventura, Calif.) (2:11:41)
Other items to note:
Oldest Competitor: Madonna Buder, 78
Youngest: Colin Keith, 18 years and 2 months
States Represented: 45 (plus Washington DC, Puerto Rico and Canada)
State with Most Athletes: California, 172
Athletes from Oregon: 76
Athletes from Washington: 107
The race is also a qualifying event for the 2009 International Triathlon Union Age Group World Championship on the Gold Coast of Australia. The top 16 in each age group will earn a spot on Team USA. Also on the line are spots for Team USA to compete at the Sprint World Championship, a shorter event being held at the same venue in Australia in 2009.
More information on nationals, including schedules, start lists and course maps can be found at the event website.
Check back Friday for a preview of Saturday's elite races.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the U.S. - as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,300 races and connects with more than 100,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.
Website: USATriathlon.org.
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