(10-31-05) Submitted by Kirk Rose - Several area athletes traveled to Hawaii to compete in the ITU World Age Group Championships on October 9, 2005. The following Northwest age groupers among the competitors representing the United States included the following:
Richard Earle, M45-49 (Salem, OR)
Jim Gulasky, M60-64 (Lebanon, OR)
Becky Obletz, F45-49 (Portland, OR)
Sandra Wiebe, F55-59 (Vancouver, WA)
Gar Hakney, M55-59 (Boise, ID)
Paul Decoursey, M55-59 (Boise, ID)
Kirk Rose, M55-59 (Albany, OR)
Madonna Buder, F75+ (Spokane, WA)
While there were other Northwest athletes this was a very strong contingency of 'older athletes'.
Sandra Wiebe pulled off a fantastic double along with the "ageless" Sister Madonna Buder. Sandy won the 55-59 Female Age Group at the ITU age group championship and then, in record setting time, won the her division at the Ford Ironman World Championships Kona, HI the following week. Sister Madonna also won her age group (women 75-79) at the ITU age group championship, and then went on to win the women's 75+ category at Ironman Hawaii the next week. And just seven weeks earlier, Sister Madonna became the oldest female to compete and Ironman distance triathlon.
Portland’s Becky Obletz was 5th in Honolulu in her age group 45-49, Jim Gulaskey at 19th in the Men 60-64, Paul Decoursey at 8th in the 55-59 male category. It was a tough day for the 55-59 age group as they started over two and a half hours later than the first group and the surf, trade winds and heat became big factors. Some participants received medical treatment on the run for heat related conditions.
Many athletes from around the world converged on the islands of Hawaii in October and our local athletes represented the Pacific Northwest well -- and certainly deserve recognition for their efforts at the end of the 2005 triathlon season.
Editor's Note: This report had been submitted to us for publishing, but originally omitted Sister Madonna Buder's astonishing performance. RaceCenter regrets the error. Special thanks to Barbara Larrain (an accomplished masters triathlete from Portland) for informing us of our omission.
Wenatchee Man Wins Age Group Title at Xterra Worlds
(10-24-05) Jason Jablonski of Wenatchee, WA won the overall age group title this past weekend at the 2005 Nissan Xterra World Championship in Maui, HI in a time of 3:01:48. The overall women's age group title was captured by Marion Summerer of Freiburg, Germany.
Jablonski won the Moonlight Basin Off-Road Triathlon on July 24 held in Big Sky, MT and qualified to compete at the US Championships held in Lake Tahoe on October 2. He then went on to take second place in the men's 30-34 age division at the Tahoe event, which was his ticket to competing in the world championship.
NOTE: The 2005 Nissan Xterra World Championship will be broadcast on CBS on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 2006 at 12 noon EST.
For complete race results, photos and a recap of the pro race, check out the Xterraplanet.com
Jablonski won the Moonlight Basin Off-Road Triathlon on July 24 held in Big Sky, MT and qualified to compete at the US Championships held in Lake Tahoe on October 2. He then went on to take second place in the men's 30-34 age division at the Tahoe event, which was his ticket to competing in the world championship.
NOTE: The 2005 Nissan Xterra World Championship will be broadcast on CBS on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 2006 at 12 noon EST.
For complete race results, photos and a recap of the pro race, check out the Xterraplanet.com
Grand Columbian Tri Announces International Long Course Distance Event for '06
(10-20-05) From Press Release - The Grand Columbian Triathlon Race Committee is pleased to announce the very first "Nice Distance" triathlon in North America. The ITU Long Course is a 4K swim, a 120K bike and 30K run - a variation of the well known "Nice" France distance and long course standard used for the ITU World Long course Championships. The Grand Columbian long course will be a direct ITU World Championship qualifier as a USAT signature event. Top finishers will qualify directly for Team USA. The Grand Columbian Iron distance and Long Course Triathlons are the 2006 USAT Pacific Northwest Regional Ultra distance and Long Course Championships. The Half Iron is a US Half Championship qualifier.
This is the first opportunity for North American athletes to experience this distance on the continent. It is long enough to represent a great challenge but short enough to be able to be "raced". The decision to host this race represents the commitment by Total Health Events to give athletes a chance to test themselves against the ITU long course standard. Combined, the Grand Columbian triathlons will offer the best endurance triathlons in North America. "We have an unparalleled venue in the wide open course, amazing vistas and inspiring bike routes. The scenic run course along the Columbia River will easily accommodate all distances." The Grand Columbian will present the highest quality that USAT races have to offer and the stature of a true championship race. Now in its third year, the Grand Columbian is rapidly establishing itself as one of a handful of "must-do" races in North America based upon the course, the outstanding community support and highest quality race management.
One prevailing question was whether to replace the Iron race with the ITU Long Course or run them both. "We thought long and hard about the issue" stated Jonathan Hoskins Race Director. "We heard from numerous athletes that there is a real interest in continuing the special iron event as well as introducing the ITU Long Course. Given the responses from athlete, we were able to craft a win-win by offering the ITU Long course Championship distance as a unique special event on a variation of the Iron course. We are blessed with an exceptional venue for the best endurance triathlons in North America. Our community volunteer base is thrilled to continue Iron triathlons and, with modifications, support both endurance events as well as the Half-Iron."
The organizers have decided to cap total participation in all three races at a combined 650 athletes. Although the course could handle up to 1,200 athletes, the organizers want to ensure every athlete feels personally supported and part of a complete Championships event experience.
The Grand Columbian International Triathlons will be held Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Grand Coulee Dam area. North Central Washington USA. For more information go to the website at www.thegrandcolumbian.com
This is the first opportunity for North American athletes to experience this distance on the continent. It is long enough to represent a great challenge but short enough to be able to be "raced". The decision to host this race represents the commitment by Total Health Events to give athletes a chance to test themselves against the ITU long course standard. Combined, the Grand Columbian triathlons will offer the best endurance triathlons in North America. "We have an unparalleled venue in the wide open course, amazing vistas and inspiring bike routes. The scenic run course along the Columbia River will easily accommodate all distances." The Grand Columbian will present the highest quality that USAT races have to offer and the stature of a true championship race. Now in its third year, the Grand Columbian is rapidly establishing itself as one of a handful of "must-do" races in North America based upon the course, the outstanding community support and highest quality race management.
One prevailing question was whether to replace the Iron race with the ITU Long Course or run them both. "We thought long and hard about the issue" stated Jonathan Hoskins Race Director. "We heard from numerous athletes that there is a real interest in continuing the special iron event as well as introducing the ITU Long Course. Given the responses from athlete, we were able to craft a win-win by offering the ITU Long course Championship distance as a unique special event on a variation of the Iron course. We are blessed with an exceptional venue for the best endurance triathlons in North America. Our community volunteer base is thrilled to continue Iron triathlons and, with modifications, support both endurance events as well as the Half-Iron."
The organizers have decided to cap total participation in all three races at a combined 650 athletes. Although the course could handle up to 1,200 athletes, the organizers want to ensure every athlete feels personally supported and part of a complete Championships event experience.
The Grand Columbian International Triathlons will be held Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Grand Coulee Dam area. North Central Washington USA. For more information go to the website at www.thegrandcolumbian.com
Eugene Wins Bid for 2008 Olympic Trials
(10-15-05) From USATF Press Release - Returning the country's most prestigious pre-Olympic event to one of the most hallowed sites in the sport, USA Track & Field on Friday awarded the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials to Eugene, Ore. The host of the 1972, '76 and '80 Olympic Trials and the 1999 and 2001 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the University of Oregon's Hayward Field will be the site of the 2008 Olympic Trials, where the roster for Team USA will be selected for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Olympic Trials will be held from June 27-July 6, 2008.
"Eugene's bid proposes an unprecedented focus on athletes, and plans for celebrating the sport that will make it a great fan experience," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "Hayward Field is hallowed ground in our sport and Eugene's vision for what they can do to connect track's past, present and future won the day. All of us at USA Track & Field congratulate John McCasey and the Sacramento Sports Commission for offering a tremendous bid to host the 2008 Olympic Trials. Deciding between Sacramento and Eugene was a very difficult task, and we'll always be grateful to John and his group for their intense interest and enthusiasm for our sport, and for raising the bar in the staging of this event in 2000 and 2004," Masback added.
Submitted by the Oregon Track Club, Eugene's bid for the Olympic Trials stressed an athlete-friendly focus and deep community support. Key elements of Eugene's bid included expanding seating at Hayward Field to up to 17,000 spectators, upgrading the entire warm-up and competition area, implementing an upgrade to media facilities and staging expansive new athlete programs over the next four years.
"We are ecstatic, yet humbled by this tremendous opportunity," said Oregon Track club President Greg Erwin." We will do everything in our power to make this the most unforgettable experience for the athletes, the spectators and the people of Oregon."
The site of the most prestigious invitational track meet in the country, the Nike Prefontaine Classic, Eugene has long been dubbed "Track Town, USA" for its rich track and field history and the community's appreciation of the sport. The Nike Prefontaine Classic regularly draws standing-room-only crowds, while athletes consistently rate Hayward Field as having one of the most compelling atmospheres of any stadium in the world.
The largest national championship track meet in the world, the U.S. Olympic Trials hosts more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for the right to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. More than 350,000 fans attended the last two Olympic Trials in Sacramento, and at each edition of the meet, more than 1,000 members of the media from around the world cover the event while thousands of volunteers and officials provide support.
Other finalists to host the 2008 Olympic Trials were Sacramento, Los Angeles/Carson, Calif., and Columbus, Ohio.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
STORY [Oregonian]
STORY [Register Guard]
Ironman Hawaii Set for Saturday
(10-13-05) Athletes from around the world will test their mettle in this year's Ford Ironman World Championship slated for Saturday in Kona, HI located on the western shore of the Big Island. Coverage of the event will be available in real time at IronmanLive.com.
Marathon Mania
(10-11-05) Marathon season is in full swing and you know this by simply looking at the calendar and seeing that the month of October is upon us. On October 9, four marathons of significance to runners in the Northwest took place - all on the same day including the 34th annual Portland Marathon, the Bend Marathon (in its second year), the Royal Victoria Marathon (in Victoria, BC), and the Chicago Marathon. And not to mention the fact that the Lake Tahoe Marathon took place the day before (on Oct 8th).In an attempt to avoid overcrowing on this particular weekend, Lake Tahoe race director Les Wright announced that his event will be moving to Sept. 30, 2006 - two weeks earlier to avoid being staged on the same weekend as the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon that will take place next year.
First Time Marathoner Wins Portland
(10-10-05) 25-year-old John Lucas from Eugene captured this year's title at the 34th annual Portland Marathon. His winning time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 28 seconds was not close to a course record, but was impressive considering that Lucas had never run a marathon before.
Yumiko Minato of Portland won the women's division in 2:44:30 beating second place finisher Wendy Terris of San Antonio, TX by over eight minutes.
Also notable is the fact that three out of the top ten finishers in the men's race were from Eugene, OR, a town known for its running roots, and running talent. Among the top Eugene runners was Matthew Lonergan, husband of elite runner Marla Runyan who gave birth to their first child on Sept 1 of this year.
RESULTS HERE
STORY [Oregonian]
Yumiko Minato of Portland won the women's division in 2:44:30 beating second place finisher Wendy Terris of San Antonio, TX by over eight minutes.
Also notable is the fact that three out of the top ten finishers in the men's race were from Eugene, OR, a town known for its running roots, and running talent. Among the top Eugene runners was Matthew Lonergan, husband of elite runner Marla Runyan who gave birth to their first child on Sept 1 of this year.
RESULTS HERE
STORY [Oregonian]
Intro to News & Features
(10-8-05) This is where we will be posting our thoughts and comments about running and triathlon in the Pacific Northwest - with a little cycling mixed in here and there. This will be a quick and easy way for us to share brief editorial, photos, race information and commentary with you.
Stay Tuned >>>
Stay Tuned >>>
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
