(7-13-09) Submitted by Dave Campbell - Hagg Lake...Oregon Triathlon's oldest event and a race site that conjures up so much for so many - site of USAT Nationals, the old Bud Light Triathlon Series venue, tough bike, and a tougher run. Realistically, it is one of the hardest Olympic distance courses one can find anywhere with nary a flat spot to be found amongst the relentless rolling hills. It is, of course, also quite beautiful and the challenge is what draws so many of us in after all. The race is also the TRI NorthWest Regional Olympic Distance Championship and a benchmark for so many of us in the area who race there year in and year out.
The forecast high 80s day didn't materialize and athletes were treated to cool, damp conditions with a bit of a fog that never lifted which made the bike a bit chilly and really took the edge of what can be a suffer-fest of a run. Hagg Lake is just hard...long transition run up from the reservoir, the immediate climb out onto the bike and run courses, not to mention the course itself, make it a race that truly selects the strongest. In addition to strength, the bike course requires technical abilities to speed through the curving bends, maximize momentum and strategically time shifting, positioning, and fueling. I have competed here at least once a year (often many times more) since 1999 and have never seen a sub-two hour performance (Nationals excepted). Lee O'Connor, a regional triathlon legend who won Mrs T's in Chicago back in 1999 to qualify for Kona (the last Olympic Distance IM qualifier) went 2:00:00 in a stacked field in 2000, which was a stunning performance. Additionally, I have never seen a sub-one hour bike on the challenging course. Well, Roger Thompson did both the "unthinkables" Saturday, biking 59:24 and completing the course in 1:59:52...WOW!
27-year-old relay swimmer Michael Kleinert of Beaverton led the field out of the two lap swim in the muddy reservoir in 20:09, closely trailed by the day's two primary overall protagonists: 2008 Hagg winner Matt Berg (20:13) and Thompson (20:42) with 38-year- old Christian Tujo of Redmond, OR between the two (20:23). Onto the bike and using his SRM Powermeter with wattages and energy systems used (LT, VO2, etc) taped onto his top tube Thompson bid adieu to the field. Averaging 25.11 miles per hour on the two lap course that gains nearly 2000 feet of elevation, Roger was 2:29 faster than 34-year-old Willy Thompson of Portland and 3:28 quicker than Berg.
The fastest run of the day belonged to the amazing 24-year-old Devin VansCoy of Salem and the Willamette Valley Tri Club. Coming out of the water in 29:25, 120th of 210 competitors, the youngster was just behind me on the bike with a sixth best 1:04:56. This put him back into the first twenty but his long legs proceeded to churn out a 36:48 to come all the way up to sixth overall and the win in his age group. While Thompson's bike is the heart of his race, he is so solid in the swim and the run. At the regional level he is virtually unstoppable, and clicking off just over six minute miles, he clocked the day's third best time of 37:33 to break the tape in 1:59:52, a clear five minute overall victory. Berg was his usual solid self running 39:07 (8th on the day) for second overall with both men in the 35-39 age division. Salem's Warren Bloomberg, 39, another green clad Willamette Valley clubber, has been a bit of a revelation this year, getting better with each major event this summer. His upward trend continued with a fine third overall in 2:08:10 highlighted by a 38:13 run split. "The other Thompson", Willy (no relation to Roger) hung on to fourth overall and a win in the 30-34 with 2:10:12. Fifth overall, Daniel Hough of Talent won the 25-29 Championship in 2:13 flat. 54 seconds later, 19-year-old Nick Wallace of Cornelius came through to win his age group. 43-year-old David Ciaverella, riding his road bike (TT bike in the shop) and sporting a speedo (forgot his shorts!) was top Master and 40-44 in 2:14:22, 9th overall. Kevin Weed of Snohomish, WA won the 45-49 regional title in 2:22:26 while omnipresent Richard Earle, 53 of Salem took his division in 2:26:30 with Portland's Michael Godfrey tops in 55-59 at 2:31:32. Lindley Morton won the 60-64 in a very impressive 2:37:23 and 65-year-old Jim Gulaskey topped the "most experienced" competitors in a very solid 2:37:57 on the demanding course, winning by nearly 45 minutes!
On the women's side, starting in their own wave all together, Chantel Efraimson of Camas, WA led out of the water in 22:09, indeed eleventh fastest overall. After a 1:14:37 bike, she held just a few seconds lead over 29-year-old Anne Usher of Portland whose 1:11:00 was the second best bike split. Usher won it on the run (43:19) for overall victory in 2:23:56 but not without a fight as Efraimson was only 35 seconds behind on the line with each winning their age group regional titles. 45-year-old Ann Davidson of Portland, the top cyclist on the day in 1:09:59, hung onto third and the Masters win, as well as the 45-49 title in 2:25:10. Stacia McInnes, fourth overall was the 40-44 Champion in 2:27:16 in a very closely matched women's field. Seventh overall Jessi Thompson (2:35:45) of Spokane won the 30-34 title, and just behind her was the incomparable Lauren Binder, 61, 8th overall and winning her age group uncontested in 2:36:06. 23 year old Hallie Hutchinson of Portland (2:50:12) topped the 20-24s and Robin Buckles of Sisters won the 50-54 in 3:03:33. 58-year-old Mary Wagner was just ten seconds behind to claim her age group title.
So, what's next? Many athletes enjoy the low key and fun environment of the Deschutes Dash in Bend this coming Saturday and the long course athletes look forward to Troika in Spokane on August 2, but there are a whole host of events packed in between in both Oregon and Washington. I will be looking forward next to the Blue Lake Mid-Summer Triathlon August 2, which is the TRI NorthWest Regional Sprint Championship and many local women will be focusing on the All Women's Triathlon at the same venue the day before. Whatever your event, the weather is great, the days are long, and the Tour is on TV to get you motivated, so keep after it and I will see you at the races!
