Danahy, Jensen Win U.S. Elite Duathlon Titles - Triathlon Week

Robert G. · 07-01-2003, 10:34 AM

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 23, 2003) - Kevin Danahy of San Diego, Calif., and Lauren Jensen of New Berlin, Wis., won the U.S. elite titles at the USA Triathlon Dannon Duathlon National Championships on Sunday in Alpharetta, Ga.

The race was a qualifier for the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Duathlon World Championshipson Aug. 29-31 in Switzerland, and also part of the ITU Duathlon World Cup Series.

Danahy used a strong second run - completing 5k in 15 minutes, 59 seconds - to defeat three-time defending national champion Greg Watson (Newark, Del.). Danahy finished the draft-legal, 10k run, 40k bike and 5k run in 1:56:55. Watson was second in 1:57:12 and Armuzzi Corrado of Italy was third in 1:57:31.

Danahy is a triathlon specialist originally from Dover, Del., who finished fifth at last year's Dannon Duathlon National Championships.

Tom Jeffrey (Charlottesville, Va.) - who was the overall age group winner at the 2002 ITU Dannon Duathlon World Championships, which were held in Alpharetta - was third among the U.S. men, but sixth overall.

International athletes dominated the women's race, as Vicky Pincombe of Great Britain won in 2:09:13, just 14 seconds ahead of New Zealand's Fiona Docherty. Great Britain's Annie Emmerson was third in 2:10:07.

Jensen finished fourth overall, but first among the U.S. women to earn the title. Andrea Ratkovic (Norman, Okla.), the defending U.S. national champion, did not compete due to injury.

Jensen did not compete at last year's national championships, but finished 16th at the duathlon world championships.

Desiree Ficker (Potomac, Md.) was the second American and sixth overall. Amory Rowe (Middletown, R.I.) was the third American and seventh overall.

Taylor Tolleson, 18, of Pacific Grove, Calif., won the draft-legal junior men's race, completing the 5k run, 20k bike and 2.5k run in 59:14. Marisa Ryan (Farmington, Conn.) won the junior women's race in 1:09:55.

Will Iaia, 21, from Highlands Ranch, Colo., won the men's under-23 race.

Sue Davis, 41, of Costa Mesa, Calif., won the women's masters title in 2:07:06 and was also the women's overall age group winner. Derek Hager, 42, of Minneapolis, Minn., won the men's masters title in 1:56:24.

In the age group race, Jonathan Hastings, 29, of Grove City, Ohio, won the men's overall title, finishing in 1:52:33. Sean Ion, 23, of Shippenville, Pa., was second overall (1:53:50) and Rick Kattouf, 32, of Warren, Ohio, was third (1:54:31)

Melanie Holloway, 33, of Alpharetta, was second among the age group women (2:07:37) and Sandy Meister-Meredith of Ramona, Calif., was third (2:07:42).

Complete race details and results are posted at www.dannonduathlon.com.

USA Triathlon Dannon Duathlon National Championships
June 22, 2003; Alpharetta, Ga.
10k run; 40k bike; 5k run

Elite Men
1. Kevin Danahy (San Diego, Calif.) 1:56:55; 2. Greg Watson (Newark, Del.) 1:57:12; 3. Armuzzi Corrado (Italy) 1:57:31; 4. Mike Trees (Great Britain) 1:57:47; 5. Rory Mackie (Zimbabwe) 1:59:05; 6. Tom Jeffrey (Charlottesville, Va.) 1:59:25; 7. Michael Boehmer (Delafield, Wis.) 2:00:43; 8. Travis Kuhl (Carthage, N.Y.) 2:01:26; 9. Fabio Barani (Italy) 2:07:58; 10. Justin Henkel (Sheboygan, Wis.) 2:08:30
Other U.S. Finisher
11. Craig Reese (Greer, S.C.)

Elite Women
1. Vicky Pincombe (Great Britain) 2:09:13; 2. Fiona Docherty (New Zealand) 2:09:27; 3. Annie Emmerson (Great Britain) 2:10:07; 4. Lauren Jensen (New Berlin, Wis.) 2:13:23; 5. Arianna Morosin (Italy) 2:14:13; 6. Desiree Ficker (Potomac, Md.) 2:17:01; 7. Amory Rowe (Middletown, R.I.) 2:17:27; 8. Cecily Tynan (Philadelphia, Pa.) 2:19:44; 9. Gabriela Hnilkova-Jenks (Albuquerque, N.M.) 2:22:27; 10. Sara Tarkington (Denver, Colo.) 2:26:04

Source: USA Triathlon