(9-26-06) From Press Release - Brent Ruby of Missoula, Montana was crowned the 2006 USAT PNW Long Distance Champion on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at Grand Columbian Triathlon held in Grand Coulee, Washington. The championships were contested at the Half Iron race as part of the USAT Grand Prix/Half Max series. Ruby completed the challenging Grand Columbian distance in a course record 4:38:45. Julie Pittsinger of Lake Chelan, Washington was crowned the women's champion and actually had the fastest women's time at 5:00:01.
All athletes competing in the 2006 were greeted with a cool desert morning. Temperatures in the 50's as the sun rose over a calm Banks Lake swim at the Grand Columbian race site. In the 1900 meter swim, Mathew Hallowell of Corvallis, Oregon led all age groupers out of the water with a 24:25. Julie was third out of the water and first women at 25:28.
The bike leg was a little tougher than average with 10-20 MPH head winds in much of the course. It was Montana in control among the men with Jeffery Cincoski of Missoula ending the bike with a 2:43:24 and a one-minute lead over Brent - who had the best bike split of 2:34:45 and a one mile per hour average higher than the rest of the pack. Julie maintained her lead over the women with a 11 minute lead over Julie Desrameaux of Victoria, BC and a 12 minute lead over Ann Ciaveralla of Portland, Oregon.
The 13.1 mile run down and back along the Columbia River was cool and clear. Athletes shared the course with ITU Pan American Championship Elite and Age-Groupers as well as Iron Distance athletes. Brent took control with a best overall 1:27:51. David Ciaverella came from 5th down to second with a 1:30:31 and a 4:47:10. John Huberty of Cyde Hill came from 8th down to finish 3rd in the run and 3rd overall with a 4:53:23. On the run Julie held on for the win, Ann Ciaveralla ran past Julie Desrameuax for second place with a 5:10:57. Desrameuax came in third with a time of 5:12:25.
The Grand Columbian offers a special award called the Iron Partnership. The combined times of married partners doing Iron/Iron, Iron/Half Iron, and Half Iron. Ann and David Ciaverella won the Half/Half award with a combined time of 9:58:09.
As the 2006 USAT PNW LONG DISTANCE GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP the top three winners in each age-group qualified for Team USA and the 2007 Long Distance World Championships in L'Orient, France.
The Grand Columbian, now in its third year, was featured in Inside Triathlon Magazine as one of the 10 "must do" long distance triathlons in North America. The venue is spectacular with completely enthusiastic community support. This race is timed perfectly for athletes gearing up for Kona or building to November. For complete race results go to www.thegrandcolumbian.com
