Barrie Shepley's Canadian Male Rankings for 2014 Triathlete of the Year (and why).
2014 was a very solid year for Canadian Male Triathletes (particularly their long distance men). New faces moved up the rankings. Veteran faces moved from Olympic racing to 70.3 & Ironman. And some ITU athletes moved to non-drafting. While there can be a debate in the order, all of these men showed great distinction in 2014 with the hopes of even bigger seasons in 2015. Let it be known that Lionel Sanders, Andrew Yorke & Taylor Reid were in Barrie's club so that any bias is known up front.
CANADIAN TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR RANKINGS BY BARRIE SHEPLEY
#1. Lionel Sanders
#2. Brent McMahon
#3. Jeff Symonds
#4. Andrew Yorke
#5. Kyle Jones
#6. Trevor Wurtele
#7. Tyler Mislawchuk
#8. Alex Hinton
#9. Alexis Lepage
#10. Taylor Reid
* Matthew Shapre (was injured & did not race enough to properly assess his spot in the top 10).
Rookies on the rise:
a) Russell Pennock
b) Xavier Greneir Talvera
THE BATTLE FOR NUMBER ONE MALE TRIATHLETE IN CANADA
Never has there been a closer battle for the number one male triathlete of the year. See how close Lionel Sanders & Brent McMahon were in 2014. Brent won four 1/2 Ironman (70.3s). Lionel won four 1/2 Ironman (70.3s). Lionel had the best 70.3 of the year (4th) at the World 70.3 Championships where only Gomez, Frodeno & Don beat him (Brent had an off day in 14th place). The only other time they raced head to head Brent had a great 2nd place finish in Utah St George 70.3 (Jan Frodeno won that race) and Lionel was 18th place overall.
Lionel had 2 silvers at 70.3 (Raleigh & Syracuse) along with four victories at shorter Olympic & sprint domestic races. Lionel had his Ironman pro debut in Florida where he went 6hrs 58 minutes and won by 19 minutes over Tom Lowe (after the swim was cancelled). With Lionel's slower swim he would have expected to have finished in 7hrs 55 min on a very windy Ironman Florida race day. Three weeks later Brent won his Ironman debut in 7hrs 55 minutes in Ironman Arizona.
Pretty spectacular year for both men. Ironman wins. Four half Ironman wins. The only real difference between the two men was the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS where the BEST were tapered and ready for their A+ race. I would give Lionel the minuscule nod for Canada's male triathlete of the year based simply on his 5 minute victory over Brent on the 70.3 Worlds. Both men were simply Awesome.
THIRD THROUGH SIXTH PLACE
Jeff Symonds continues to rock with a victory in Penticton Challenge just two weeks after coming 2nd at Ironman Canada (and a 2hr 40min marathon). He finished the year off with a 7th at the half million dollar Bahran 70.3 race.
You could throw a towel over Kyle Jones and Andrew Yorke all season as they were Canada's only two consistent racers on the World Triathlon Circuit. Jones beat Yorke at the World Championships while Yorke beat Jones at the Commonwealth Games where he had his career best 4th place finish. Both Kyle & Andrew had wins & podiums at ITU Pt races in Florida, Quebec and Ontario. Jones spent much of the year fighting a blocked artery and now that the surgery is over, he is looking for big things in 2015. Both Jones & Yorke hope to be going after a medal at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.
Veteran Trevor Wurtele had a very workman like season. Always a threat, the incredible biker rode some of the top splits all year long. He had silver medal performances in Boise 70.3 and Mt Tremblant (non World race). Trevor's 3rd place at Ironman Chattanooga was the closest he got to an Ironman victory in 2013. Look for the veteran to continue big things in 2015.
7TH THROUGH THE ROOKIES
Tyler Mislawchuck was off in Hong Kong with Patrick Kelly early in 2014 and stated to show some big improvements. An unfortunate early season bike crash and broken jaw/teeth was a setback that altered what might have been a monster break through year. None the less, even with some physical setbacks and challenges with paper-work & lost bikes, Tyler still had 8th at world under 23 championships, 3rd at the World Team Championships, a 4th in Holten & 7th in Banyoles Spain.
Veteran Guelph athlete, Alex Hinton started the year off with a win in Bridgetown, 2nd in Toronto and 4th at the ITU Magog race. As a hit & miss swimmer, Alex missed the big swim in Edmonton and even his great run wasn't enough to get him past 19th place. With graduation around the corner, the Kingston rocket is sure to make even bigger performances in 2015.
Quebec have been creating some great youngster the last few years and Alexis Lepage is one of those young stars. He was top Canadian at the under 23 worlds (7th) place and was 5th in Toronto & was a member of the bronze medal Team in Edmonton.
Rounding out the top 10 Canadian Triathletes in 2014, is Taylor Reid. The one time Junior National Medalist and past under 23 National Champion made the move to non-drafting now that his under 23 career is over. It didn't take long for Reid to see success. In his first major race (TSN Chase in Saskatchewan) Reid rode through Jon Bird, Sean Bechtel, Jeff Symonds and 2x Olympian Brent McMahon to be the first man across the line. Reid had another ripper in New York City with a 4th place finish and ended the year with a 3hr 55 minute Half Ironman (70.3) in Miami. With his speed from ITU racing and his guts from chasing most of his under 23 career, the McMaster Cross Country Star is expected to do big things in 2015. Reid will graduate from McMaster in April and be a full time racing pro come May 1st.
YOUNG STUDS ON THE RISE
Alberta's Russell Pennock might be the rockstar for the future. His older sister, Ellen, has helped show her younger brother what is possible. Now back with his old coach Bart Ujack, anything is possible for Pennock. He was 5th at the World Junior Championships and winner of the National Championships and 4th at the North American Championships. Quebec's Xavier Grenier Talvera was the North American Champ, 4th at the Pan American Championships & 9th at the Edmonton World Championships.
I AM SURE I AM MISSING A FEW GREAT MEN
Its not easy to make a top 10 list. I have left Matt Sharpe off the list, simply because of a long-season that was injury plagued did not let him race up to his potential. None the less, when Canada needed Matt, he came up with a big leg on the team-relay for a 4th place team finish.
LOOKING FOR EVEN BIGGER THINGS IN 2015
There are numerous new names that I believe will emerge on the scene in 2015. Will this be the year that a number of Canadian men challenge for the Kona Title? Its been a long time since Peter Reid dominated in Hawaii. How about a medal at the Pan American Games in 2015? Kyle Jones has two fourth place finishes at his last two Pan American Games. Can Jones, or Yorke or a new face get a medal for Canada in Toronto in July? Lots of hard work occurring around North America over the next four months as we start to see which men will make my 2015 list. Congratulations to all athletes, coaches, clubs, sponsors and families who helped these amazing men achieve a great 2014.
TELL ME WHAT ATHLETE WAS MISSING OFF THE TOP 10 LIST AND IF YOU WEREN'T SELECTING LIONEL SANDERS WHICH CANADIAN WOULD YOU HAVE SELECTED?
2014 was a very solid year for Canadian Male Triathletes (particularly their long distance men). New faces moved up the rankings. Veteran faces moved from Olympic racing to 70.3 & Ironman. And some ITU athletes moved to non-drafting. While there can be a debate in the order, all of these men showed great distinction in 2014 with the hopes of even bigger seasons in 2015. Let it be known that Lionel Sanders, Andrew Yorke & Taylor Reid were in Barrie's club so that any bias is known up front.
CANADIAN TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR RANKINGS BY BARRIE SHEPLEY
#1. Lionel Sanders
#2. Brent McMahon
#3. Jeff Symonds
#4. Andrew Yorke
#5. Kyle Jones
#6. Trevor Wurtele
#7. Tyler Mislawchuk
#8. Alex Hinton
#9. Alexis Lepage
#10. Taylor Reid
* Matthew Shapre (was injured & did not race enough to properly assess his spot in the top 10).
Rookies on the rise:
a) Russell Pennock
b) Xavier Greneir Talvera
THE BATTLE FOR NUMBER ONE MALE TRIATHLETE IN CANADA
Never has there been a closer battle for the number one male triathlete of the year. See how close Lionel Sanders & Brent McMahon were in 2014. Brent won four 1/2 Ironman (70.3s). Lionel won four 1/2 Ironman (70.3s). Lionel had the best 70.3 of the year (4th) at the World 70.3 Championships where only Gomez, Frodeno & Don beat him (Brent had an off day in 14th place). The only other time they raced head to head Brent had a great 2nd place finish in Utah St George 70.3 (Jan Frodeno won that race) and Lionel was 18th place overall.
Lionel had 2 silvers at 70.3 (Raleigh & Syracuse) along with four victories at shorter Olympic & sprint domestic races. Lionel had his Ironman pro debut in Florida where he went 6hrs 58 minutes and won by 19 minutes over Tom Lowe (after the swim was cancelled). With Lionel's slower swim he would have expected to have finished in 7hrs 55 min on a very windy Ironman Florida race day. Three weeks later Brent won his Ironman debut in 7hrs 55 minutes in Ironman Arizona.
Pretty spectacular year for both men. Ironman wins. Four half Ironman wins. The only real difference between the two men was the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS where the BEST were tapered and ready for their A+ race. I would give Lionel the minuscule nod for Canada's male triathlete of the year based simply on his 5 minute victory over Brent on the 70.3 Worlds. Both men were simply Awesome.
THIRD THROUGH SIXTH PLACE
Jeff Symonds continues to rock with a victory in Penticton Challenge just two weeks after coming 2nd at Ironman Canada (and a 2hr 40min marathon). He finished the year off with a 7th at the half million dollar Bahran 70.3 race.
You could throw a towel over Kyle Jones and Andrew Yorke all season as they were Canada's only two consistent racers on the World Triathlon Circuit. Jones beat Yorke at the World Championships while Yorke beat Jones at the Commonwealth Games where he had his career best 4th place finish. Both Kyle & Andrew had wins & podiums at ITU Pt races in Florida, Quebec and Ontario. Jones spent much of the year fighting a blocked artery and now that the surgery is over, he is looking for big things in 2015. Both Jones & Yorke hope to be going after a medal at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.
Veteran Trevor Wurtele had a very workman like season. Always a threat, the incredible biker rode some of the top splits all year long. He had silver medal performances in Boise 70.3 and Mt Tremblant (non World race). Trevor's 3rd place at Ironman Chattanooga was the closest he got to an Ironman victory in 2013. Look for the veteran to continue big things in 2015.
7TH THROUGH THE ROOKIES
Tyler Mislawchuck was off in Hong Kong with Patrick Kelly early in 2014 and stated to show some big improvements. An unfortunate early season bike crash and broken jaw/teeth was a setback that altered what might have been a monster break through year. None the less, even with some physical setbacks and challenges with paper-work & lost bikes, Tyler still had 8th at world under 23 championships, 3rd at the World Team Championships, a 4th in Holten & 7th in Banyoles Spain.
Veteran Guelph athlete, Alex Hinton started the year off with a win in Bridgetown, 2nd in Toronto and 4th at the ITU Magog race. As a hit & miss swimmer, Alex missed the big swim in Edmonton and even his great run wasn't enough to get him past 19th place. With graduation around the corner, the Kingston rocket is sure to make even bigger performances in 2015.
Quebec have been creating some great youngster the last few years and Alexis Lepage is one of those young stars. He was top Canadian at the under 23 worlds (7th) place and was 5th in Toronto & was a member of the bronze medal Team in Edmonton.
Rounding out the top 10 Canadian Triathletes in 2014, is Taylor Reid. The one time Junior National Medalist and past under 23 National Champion made the move to non-drafting now that his under 23 career is over. It didn't take long for Reid to see success. In his first major race (TSN Chase in Saskatchewan) Reid rode through Jon Bird, Sean Bechtel, Jeff Symonds and 2x Olympian Brent McMahon to be the first man across the line. Reid had another ripper in New York City with a 4th place finish and ended the year with a 3hr 55 minute Half Ironman (70.3) in Miami. With his speed from ITU racing and his guts from chasing most of his under 23 career, the McMaster Cross Country Star is expected to do big things in 2015. Reid will graduate from McMaster in April and be a full time racing pro come May 1st.
YOUNG STUDS ON THE RISE
Alberta's Russell Pennock might be the rockstar for the future. His older sister, Ellen, has helped show her younger brother what is possible. Now back with his old coach Bart Ujack, anything is possible for Pennock. He was 5th at the World Junior Championships and winner of the National Championships and 4th at the North American Championships. Quebec's Xavier Grenier Talvera was the North American Champ, 4th at the Pan American Championships & 9th at the Edmonton World Championships.
I AM SURE I AM MISSING A FEW GREAT MEN
Its not easy to make a top 10 list. I have left Matt Sharpe off the list, simply because of a long-season that was injury plagued did not let him race up to his potential. None the less, when Canada needed Matt, he came up with a big leg on the team-relay for a 4th place team finish.
LOOKING FOR EVEN BIGGER THINGS IN 2015
There are numerous new names that I believe will emerge on the scene in 2015. Will this be the year that a number of Canadian men challenge for the Kona Title? Its been a long time since Peter Reid dominated in Hawaii. How about a medal at the Pan American Games in 2015? Kyle Jones has two fourth place finishes at his last two Pan American Games. Can Jones, or Yorke or a new face get a medal for Canada in Toronto in July? Lots of hard work occurring around North America over the next four months as we start to see which men will make my 2015 list. Congratulations to all athletes, coaches, clubs, sponsors and families who helped these amazing men achieve a great 2014.
TELL ME WHAT ATHLETE WAS MISSING OFF THE TOP 10 LIST AND IF YOU WEREN'T SELECTING LIONEL SANDERS WHICH CANADIAN WOULD YOU HAVE SELECTED?