(4-19-10) Submitted by Dave Campbell - The Albany Sprint Triathlon, held this year on Sunday, April 18, epitomizes early season multisport racing, particularly in the Willamette Valley, during April. This race has seen every possible form of weather over the years from gusting winds, bitter cold, rain and even snow and even summer-like temperatures. Both veteran and novice athletes from across the region turned out in Albany for the race on a gorgeous calm, clear, sunny spring day.
When I first started competing in triathlon, I didn’t understand “pool swim” triathlons. It is a very different vibe from the open water scene. Lane assignments, staggered starts, wave starts, the washing machine effect giving way to the short, intense, often freezing with high heart rate chaos outside. Realistically these sorts of races form a perfect transition from winter training into the longer, open water events of the summer - and the energy is great. People are excited, supportive, raring to go, and racing hard!
A cold, clear dawn with fog lifting off the valley floor greeted at large number of eager competitors at the Albany Aquatic Center for the 8 a.m. start. Although the sun was shining and the temperatures would be high 60s by events end, the first cyclists faced a chilly 45 degrees upon exiting the pool. Two heats of nearly 300 competitors would do 750 meters simultaneously in two 25 meter segments of the pool (separated by a bulkhead) at 30 minute intervals. The flat 20 kilometer bike was interrupted only by two overpasses over I-5 while in between cyclists rolled alongside tulip-lined fields, green productive farms, a quaint little white steepled church, and stunning views of the Cascades. The run exit paralleled the bike entry before loping through a duck-filled park into quiet neighborhoods and back along the main drag to a 300m track finish alongside the pool.
While racing in the first heat, with 150 meters to go, I must admit to being startled at hearing the cheers and seeing the large crowd of friends, family, and competitors turn their heads as the first swimmer rose up onto the bulkhead! 18-year-old Ben Niermann blazed an 8:42, a sub 1:10 pace, that put him over a minute clear onto the bike. It was relatively short-lived, however, as 27-year-old Nick Alden then took control. After a 9:57 Swim, he did a race best 32:27 bike (with transition) and 22:59 run (with transition) to finish over four minutes clear for a resounding overall victory in 1:03:09, the fastest time I can recall ever at the event. I won the event three times (2001, 2002, and 2006) with times in the 1:04s and was third yesterday in 1:08:03, which I was actually thrilled about, as injury and extensive physical therapy has hampered me for nearly a year now. I was outrun for 2nd overall by omnipresent and perennial nice guy Dave Florence (1:07:43) of Canby, who also won the Men’s 40-44 age group.
Lindon Powell impressively dominated the Under 19 group in 1:09:11 while Brad Russell did a 1:12:30 to top the “early 20s” with Alden easily winning the “late 20’s” age group. Dr. Paul Schones, a Chiropractor from Newport in just his third triathlon won the 30-34 group in 1:13:59, nearly 20 minutes better than his debut last August. Jason Hawthorne topped the 35-39 group in 1:08:49 just behind the overall position of Florence, the 40-44 Champ. Top 45-49 was Mark Bidwell in 1:19:57 and first 50-54 was Tom Box in 1:16:14. Top “Late 50’s” was Phil Anderson in a very impressive 1:13:44 and Kirk “never say die” Rose topped the 60s in 1:22:44.
The women were led out of the pool by the woman who started behind me in Lane 5 (and passed me at the 150m mark!) 35-year-old Jennifer Statstad who swam 10:39. Kristina Lackner, 39, of Sherwood, a six-time Ironman finisher, dominated the bike in 34:59 to take over the race lead. The overall win by just 20 seconds, however, went to the strong broad-shouldered new female triathlete on the scene, Rachelle Jorgensen of Eugene in 1:11:25, thanks to a strong swim and run. Third overall woman was 33-year-old Alison Laird in 1:14:47. Laird was author of the days fastest run, a stunning 17:31 with transition, over five minutes faster than the second best runner on the day Sandra Bennett who won the 45-49 yr old age class. The duel between Jorgensen and Lackner put them into 7th and 8th overall on the day, humbling many a man!
Unlike most events, the fastest competitors raced first with the rookies in the final heats so the bleachers were filled with athletes awaiting awards to cheer in the last finishers. 26-year-old Teagan Sigler was the fastest on a mountain bike for the women in 1:29:40 while an impressive 1:20:27 topped the day for the men. That solid time was put down by Henry Ryals, who is just 14 years old. The Willamette Valley Triathlon Club relay team of Michelle Mills, Devon Vanscoy, and Rui Zhu topped all comers in 1:05:20, second best overall time of the day. Casey Gifford won the 19 & under group in 1:22:41 and Betty Nickerson topped the 25-29s in 1:26:52. Laird topped the 30-34s and Jorgensen the 35-39s while Kristin Warren’s 1:22:07 stood atop the 40-44s. Bennett unsurprisingly topped the 45-49s in 1:19:11 and Maryann Congreves 1:27:41 was best of the “early 50s”. Suzanne McMillin was best “late 50’s” in 1:43:55 and Caterine Alden won “the 60’s” in 1:43:55.
Ironman legend and WOU Instructor Elke Asleson hosts a Sprint Triathlon on her Campus May 1 and then Kirk Rose’s Lebanon Sprint Triathlon happens May 15 so there are many more chances to jump into a pool swim sprint triathlon experience. As sunshine becomes more the norm and the rain fades into memories of winter, keep training, keep smiling, and I will see you at the races!
