Reback, Bildstein Win Overall Age Group Titles - Triathlon Week

Robert G. · 10-10-2003, 10:13 AM

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 6, 2003) - John Reback and Sabine Bildstein were the overall men and women's winners at the largest USA Triathlon Age Group Triathlon NationalChampionships ever held, on Saturday in Shreveport, La.

Approximately 1,250 triathletes were in Shreveport for the race, which was the only qualifier for the 2004 International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Triathlon Championships in Madeira Island, Portugal. Athletes completed a 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run.

Reback (North Palm Beach, Fla.), 33, the brother of top U.S. elite triathlete Laura Reback (ranked No. 2 in the world), completed the race in 1 hour, 55 minutes, 58 seconds. Brandon Marsh (Austin, Texas), 28, was second overall in 1:56:18 and Marty Gaal (Orlando, Fla.), 31, was third in 1:57:20.

Bildstein (Austin, Texas), 31, won the women's race in 2:07:31. Melanie Holloway (Alpharetta, Ga.), 33, finished second to Bildstein in her age group and overall, completing the race in 2:08:01. It was the second year in a row Holloway had finished second overall. Last year she finished behind Julie Swail (Irvine, Calif.), who is now competing as an elite.

Rebeccah Wassner (New York, N.Y.) was third in 2:08:43.

The top 16 finishers in each age group qualified for the world championships.

Among the past age group national champions who stood atop the podium were Pete Kain (Cupertino, Calif.; m40-44), who was the 2002 overall men's champion, Karen Chequer-Pfeiffer (Santa Rosa, Calif.; w45-49), Jim Bruskewitz (Madison, Wis.; m50-54), Mary Dunn (Cheshire, Conn.; w50-54), Paula Larsen (Horicon, Wis.; w55-59) and Jan Miller (Marana, Ariz.; w65-69).

Complete race results can be found at http://www.doitsports.com/groups/res...l?group_id=91.

USA Triathlon National Age Group Triathlon Championship
Oct. 4, 2003; Shreveport, La.
1.5k swim; 40k bike; 10k run

Top 10 Overall

Women:
1. Sabine Bildstein (Austin, Texas), 2:07:03; 2. Melanie Holloway (Alpharetta, Ga.), 2:08:01; 3. Rebecca Wassner (New York, N.Y.), 2:08:43; 4. Malaika Homo (Bloomington, Ind.), 2:09:25; 5. Shelby Sheffield (Nashville, Tenn.), 2:09:29; 6. Lori Barker (Folsom, Calif.), 2:10:12; 7. Holly Nybo (Portola Valley, Calif.), 2:10:13; 8. Erin Ford (Columbus, Ohio), 2:10:24; 9. Linda Neary (North Palm Beach, Fla.), 2:10:41; 10. Jessica Jones (Bellaire, Texas), 2:10:43

Men:
1. John Reback (North Palm Beach, Fla.), 1:55:58; 2. Brandon Marsh (Austin, Texas), 1:56:18; 3. Marty Gaal (Orlando, Fla.), 1:57:20; 4. Chris Peeters (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:57:30; 5. Bill Reeves (Durham, N.H.), 1:57:41; 6. Charles Smith (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1:57:57; 7. Phillip Smith (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1:57:57; 8. Michael Boehmer (Delafield, Wis.), 1:58:03; 9. Chris Ramsey (Arlington, Mass.), 1:58:20; 10. Brian Bich (Duluth, Minn.), 1:58:31

Age Group Champions

18-24
Male: Michael Boehmer (Delafield, Wis.) 1:58:03
Female: Emily Deppe (Minneapolis, Minn.) 2:13:01

25-29
Male: Brandon Marsh (Austin, Texas) 1:56:18
Female: Rebecca Wassner (New York, N.Y.) 2:08:43

30-34
Male: John Reback (North Palm Beach, Fla.) 1:55:58
Female: Sabine Bildstein (Austin, Texas) 2:07:03

35-39
Male: Chris Peeters (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 1:57:30
Female: Linda Neary (North Palm Beach, Fla.) 2:10:41

40-44
Male: Pete Kain (Cupertino, Calif.) 2:01:25
Female: Holly Nybo (Portola Valley, Calif.) 2:10:13

45-49
Male: Mark Gowler (St. Louis, Mo.) 2:01:30
Female: Karen Chequer-Pfeiffer (Santa Rosa, Calif.) 2:13:14

50-54
Male: Jim Bruskewitz (Madison, Wis.) 2:08:52
Female: Mary Dunn (Cheshire, Conn.) 2:18:25

55-59
Male: Steve Smith (South Bend, Ind.) 2:11:10
Female: Paula Larsen (Horicon, Wis.) 2:32:50

60-64
Male: David McNeeley (Glen Arm, Md.) 2:20:09
Female: Ann Erickson (The Woodlands, Texas) 2:38:55

65-69
Male: Jon Adamson (Alpharetta, Ga.) 2:28:30
Female: Jan Miller (Marana, Ariz.) 2:40:49

70-74
Male: Frank French (Bridgman, Mich.) 3:03:31
Female: Molly Hayes (Bozeman, Mont.) 4:29:29

75-79
Female: Jackie Yost (Treasure Island, Fla.) 3:59:33

Clydesdale
18-39: Ahmed Zaher (Dallas, Texas) 2:04:14
Masters 40-plus: Sean Phelps (Billings, Mont.) 2:15:00

Athena
18-39: Beth Atnip (Lexington, Ky.) 2:25:23
Masters 40-plus: Susan Bowles (Greenwood Village, Colo.) 2:56:00

Physically challenged
Jeff Sapper (Oakland, Fla.) 3:12:54