(6-29-09) Submitted by Dave Campbell - Looking back on my eighth Pacific Crest Long Course Triathlon, one thing that really stands out is the outstanding performances by women. Race winner Mackenzie Madison (9th overall with the fastest women's time ever recorded on the current PCT course), runner-up Brynje Enderle (also 16th overall), and 21st placed Amy Bottenberg all came in under the esteemed five hour mark. This was the 13th running of the ultra challenging and iconic Northwest triathlon that pays out $5000 to the top five men and women overall and had 433 finishers.
Athletes handled a 30 minute delayed start (an accident slowed one of the athlete buses en route to the swim venue) well, lounging and chatting in transition, but more than a few nervously noted the mercury rising, ultimately peaking in the mid 80s for the always grueling run. Of all PCT's difficulties, to me it is the final five miles of the run by the river, the stables, and ultimately the golf course approaching the Sunriver Lodge that are so exposed and sun-drenched that make the final stretch to the finish extremely difficult.
As previously reported on RaceCenter.com, Mark Van Akkeren of Boulder, CO was in control from the gun beginning with an impressive 23:16 swim in Wickiup Reservoir. Champ Matt Lieto of Bend, a frequent leader out of the water, emerged in third on the heels of Guy Crawford of Seattle, three minutes in arrears. When I spoke to Matt in transition before the race Saturday, he told me he couldn't walk on Tuesday and ran two miles on Thursday. The contusion on his hip from an accident suffered at a race several weeks earlier stuck out visibly several inches in a huge lump beneath his tri shorts. "I figured if I can run two, I can run thirteen so I signed up". We also spoke of the late Steve Larsen, an athlete I have known since the Junior December cycling camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado in 1985 and a frequent rival and training partner of Matt's. Many people were thinking of Steve on Saturday, in a race Larsen won twice and was also second to Lieto in Matt's 2005 win, one of three. Matt's plan was to "throw down on the bike" and hope to hang on... not unlike past Larsen strategies!
All the athletes faced a bit of a headwind throughout the bike course, adding to the already formidable challenges of elevation and heat. My top speed on the descent was "only" 45 mph and I have previously hit 50, one indicator of the slowing breeze. The two final climbs up to the Mt Bachelor ski resort had abundant roadside snow, which some enthusiastic friends and family were even handing up as snow balls to hot, tired riders for cooling off.
The aforementioned breeze on the mountain was nowhere to be found on the baking hot run, where abundant and enthusiastic volunteers sprayed athletes with water pistols and handed up ice, electrolyte drink, and cold water to desperately cramping, tiring, and boiling athletes. 29-year-old Van Akkeren, only two minutes behind Lieto's race-best 2:15:05 bike split, left no doubt that he was the best on this day with a race-best run of 1:24:48 to win the race in one of the best times ever of 4:07:09. 31-year-old Lieto, running a seventh best 1:31:38, despite the hip injury that had him visibly limping afterwards, was second in an amazing 4:15:12. 30-year-old Crawford was third overall two minutes back and Brendan Halpin, 25, of Missoula, MT nabbed fourth on the heels of a second-best run (1:25:04) in 4:21:56. The last man to "make the money" was the consistently strong, consistent, and omnipresent Grant Folske of the Ironheads club from Beaverton in 4:31:42.
"The Energizer Bunny", also representing Ironheads, 43-year-old David Ciaverella of Happy Valley, OR was sixth overall in 4:36:38 and Masters Champion for the second year in a row. He gave me a running commentary on how lax his swim training had been and how slow he swam as he flew by me on the bike (if I only I had so much energy!) enroute to a super consistent 32:17/2:29:08/1:32:11 race. Perennial long-course presence Steffen Brocks of Portland was second Master in 4:19:18.
On the women's side, Enderle led out of the water in 34:37, but 22-year-old Madison was only six seconds back before she laid down a scorching 2:34:17 bike (17th overall on the day) to take firm control of the race. Her 1:34:11 run was also the best among the women and an even more astounding 11th best overall giving her a convincing victory, arguably the best ever women's PCT performance. Enderle won her age group and finished second overall in 4:56:10, followed by 36-year-old Bottenberg and fourth place Lisa Spinner, 34, from Boise, ID in 5:00:56. Rounding out the top five and the final "money winner" was the amazing 46-year-old Lauren Trent of San Jose, CA in 5:13:42. Lauren also took the Masters title with a well-rounded 35:46/2:49:40/1:42:36 performance. Suzanne Endsley of Couer d'Alene, ID was the second Master in 5:15:51, further emphasizing the depth and quality of this years women's field.
The Endurance Duathlon, contested by 53 athletes, was the Dave Florence show. The easy-going friendly Mid Valley Triathlon Club athlete from Canby, OR (whose running prowess and improved bike has been noted here before) was a dominant winner in a very impressive 4:08 flat. Rollston Frangopoullos of Portland led off the bike (2:28:38) with Florence a bit over a minute back. The green-clad 42-year-old Florence, however, ran a very solid 1:36:20, the best run split by over four minutes to break the tape a dozen minutes clear. 40-year-old Chad Sage of Bend was second overall in 4:20:40 and Jason Tavakolian of Eugene was third in 4:25:49. Continuing the theme of amazing women at PCT, 41-year-old Kelli Reed of Eugene was 12th overall in 4:59:01, thanks to a women's best 1:48:21 run. Pam Antoni, 34, of Portland (leader off the bike in 2:56:33) was the second woman and an impressive 15th overall in 5:11:52 with 44-year-old Paula Harkin of West Linn, third in 5:24:26. Both overall winning athletes won the Masters titles as well, showing that endurance sports age and experience actually counts for quite a lot.
Getting to the finish line, no matter what the time, also counts for a lot and great job to each one of the 4000 athletes that participated in the PCT weekend. The next big event for many will be the Hagg Lake Triathlon on July 12 in Forest Grove, OR, which is also the 2009 TRI NorthWest Regional Olympic Distance Championship. The summer is still young, many great events still dot the calendar, and I look forward to seeing you at the races!
