Bellingham - night be before the big race

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m in Bellingham for the big race! Weather will be mild -cloudy, high 60’s low 70’s for the race. Water is 62 degrees (18C)

Great men’s field including Olympic Champion Simon Whitfield, Current World Champion Bevan Dougherty, Craig Alexander, Matt Reed, Hunter Kemper (ranked #5 in the world) and Andy Potts. The four men in the battle for the final spot on the Olympic Team are - Doug Friman, Victor Plata, Brian Fleshman and Micheal Smedly. My pick is Brian.

Women’s field includes Barb and Shelia allready on the team and the three with a chance to join them. Laura Reback, Susan Williams and Julie Swail. My bet is on Laura to win the spot. Her boyfriend Greg Bennett will not be racing, but cheering her on along with her mom and dad!

An NBC film crew is on site filming B-roll for the Olympic telecast and commercials leading up to the Olympic - Siri Lindey is also on site as she will be the commentator in Athens.

Bill Burke and Premier Event Management has done a GREAT job in producing this second year event! JJ is working hard on timing/scoring the event (notice he as not posted for awhile) Attention to detail is in evidence throughout the site. Seperate transitions and finshlines for the races and a great looking pontoon for the elite swim start!

Baker’s Breakfast Cookies owners - Bryan Gecshwell and Erin Baker have involved the entire city to help out with the race. The local newpaper - the Bellinham Hearld sponsored a kids duathlon that had 150 kids ages 7-12 this morning!

The age-group race starts at 6:30 AM tomorrow morning - Women’s race at noon and men at 2:40 PM. Both Inside Tri and Triathlete Mag. have reporters at the event, so I assume that both will have results soon after the race. The ITU website should also have results.

Z

2

Dude,

Fleishman’s bike got the hell dented out of it either on the either the seat or chain stay. It was the airlines fault. He sent a pic of it to a buddy of mine and he forwarded it on to me. Looks gnarly. Hope it won’t affect the bike’s performance tomorrow.

Keith

3

My sentimental pick is Victor Plata. Doug Friman would be an OK second choice.

clm

4

Internet? TV?

5

Plata and Williams - Great race! Both the men’s and women’s events were flawless - Hunter and Potts were 1-2 on the men’s side. Reed was third. Barb finished second to Liz Blachford and Susan came in third beating Laura for the spot to Athens.

6

Any idea where Reback finished?

7

5th overall - A canadian finished 4th.