At the Races
JACOBS, CAVE EARN KONA TITLES; NINE AMERICANS TOP AGE GROUPS
By Barry Siff T
he last professional American Ironman World Champion was Tim DeBoom in 2002. The last professional female American Champion was Karen Smyers in 1995. Nothing changed this year on the pro side. Great Britain’s Leanda Cave, and Australian Pete Jacobs were victorious in Kona on Oct. 13, enduring some of the most dif- ficult racing conditions in the past five years. The top American pros were Mary Beth Ellis (fifth) and Andy Potts (seventh). However, battling close to 1,900 others from all over the world,
nine athletes from the United States claimed age group titles in 2012. One of those champions was 68-year-old Cherie Gruenfeld of Cathedral City, Calif. “In October, I celebrated my 20th year in triathlon and my 18th
Kona. It was a special year because I missed 2011 due to injury, so I was fired up and ready to race,” said the 11-time Ironman age group winner. “I’ve seen some decline in my finish times, but I’m still racing hard, and every time I cross the finish line on Alii, I feel just like I felt my first time in 1992.” Toward the other end of the spectrum was 25-year-old Danielle Kehoe of Arvada, Colo., who not only won the women’s 25-29 age group but also was the second-fastest female amateur. “I will never forget crossing the finish line and hearing the specta- tors cheering me on; it was incredible,” Kehoe said. Kehoe plans to turn pro in 2013, and if her sixth-fastest bike split
of 5:11:26 among the pro women is any indication, we may be hear- ing a lot more from her in the future.
Americans also took home the honors in the youngest and oldest
age groups. Allison Linnell (22) won the women’s 18-24 age group and Harriet Anderson (77) took home the women’s 75-79 honors, finishing just 41 seconds under the cutoff. Of the nine age group champions, only one man stood atop the podium: 61-year-old physi- cian, Rick Simpson of Plover, Wis., who only started triathlon in 2005. If there is a common thread among the U.S. winners, it is their love for life, for living the multisport lifestyle and inspiring others. Gruenfeld coaches a group of inner-city kids in San Bernardino, while paratriathlon champions Amy Dodson and Andre Kajlich display a resolve and dedication that is both respected and inspirational to all who witness their racing skills. Even athletes who didn’t top their age groups appreciated their Kona experiences.
“Kona was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The beauty of Hawaii, the energy and tradition of the pre-race events and the thrill of the actual Ironman were beyond anything I could have imagined,” said Susan Haag, member of the USA Triathlon and ITU Women’s Com- mittees.
Barry Siff is VP, USAT Board of Directors; Director, HITS Running Festivals; and first raced in Kona in 1988. He is a member of the Timex Multisport and PowerBar Elite teams and lives between Boulder and Tucson with his wife, Jodee, and dog, Jackpot.
48 USA TRIATHLON WINTER 2013
Robert Verhelst of Waunakee, Wis.
2012 IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2.4-MILE SWIM, 112-MILE BIKE, 26.2-MILE RUN) KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII
Pro Men
1. Pete Jacobs (AUS), 8:18:37 2. Andreas Raelert (GER), 8:23:40 3. Frederik Van Lierde (BEL), 8:24:09 4. Sebastian Kienle (GER), 8:27:08 5. Faris Al-Sultan (GER), 8:28:33 6. Timo Bracht (GER), 8:30:57
7. Andy Potts (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 8:31:45 8. Timothy O’Donnell (Boulder, Colo.), 8:33:28 9. David Dellow (AUS), 8:35:02 10. Dirk Bockel (LUX), 8:36:21
Pro Women
1. Leanda Cave (GBR), 9:15:54 2. Caroline Steffen (SUI), 9:16:58 3. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS), 9:21:41 4. Sonja Tajsich (GER), 9:22:45 5. Mary Beth Ellis (Boulder, Colo.), 9:22:57 6. Natasha Badmann (SUI), 9:26:25 7. Gina Crawford (NZL), 9:28:54 8. Linsey Corbin (Missoula, Mont.), 9:32:18 9. Caitlin Snow (Brockton, Mass.), 9:36:18 10. Amy Marsh (Austin, Texas), 9:38:15
U.S. Age Group Champions Female 18-24: Allison Linnell (Miami, Fla.), 10:16:31 Female 25-29: Danielle Kehoe (Arvada, Colo.), 9:51:07 Female 40-44: Amy McGrath (Spring Branch, Texas), 10:13:42 Female 55-59: Laura Sophiea (Atlanta, Ga.), 11:09:30 Female 60-64: Judith Laney (Denver, Colo.), 12:27:51 Male 60-64: Rick Simpson (Plover, Wis.), 10:55:16 Female 65-69: Cherie Gruenfeld (Cathedral City, Calif.), 13:35:14 Female 70-74: Beatrice Burns (Hamden, Conn.), 15:28:11 Female 75-79: Harriet Anderson (San Carlos, Calif.), 16:59:19 Male HC: Andre Kajlich (Seattle, Wash.), 10:30:19 Female PC: Amy Dodson (Tucson, Ariz.), 14:03:32
Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
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