Race Report: Bikesport Ann Arbor Triathlon

Triathlon Forum
1

June 10, 2007, Half Moon Lake and Pinckney Recreation Area, Dexter, Michigan, United States.

The 22nd Annual Bikesport Ann Arbor Triathlon hosted over 500 triathletes and 60 duathletes in perfect weather conditions on one of the oldest, most challenging sprint triathlon courses in Michigan.

Fair weather, light winds and good trail conditions greeted athletes following a week of uncertaintly over the swim course that was resolved favroably in the days prior to the event.

X-Terra National Age Group Champion Ryan DeCook put together a fine race to win by a scant 20 seconds over Previous winner Joe Deighan of the B.D.'s Mongolian Barbeque Mongo Multisport Team, a strong local team of elite athletes who benefit local charities including the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Michigan. DeCook’s winning bike split was a blistering 25.3 m.p.h. average. Heir Apparent Aaron Kamnetz rounded out the top three in third place at only 21 years old, less than 2 minutes off the lead.

Notable finishes include St’s own Gavin Nunns (gavnunns on ST) in 7th overall with the 2nd fastest bike split of the day and a top ten run split on the difficult Potowatami Trail. Nunns excellent bike split overtook no less than 71 other athletes.

Ironman specialist Gary Gurgold was 6th overall and one of Michigan’s most experienced triathletes, Roman Krzyzanowski, broke the top ten overall in 9th place.

Another notable performance was 17 year old Travis Littlejohn, who posted the 2nd fastest swim split of the day at 11:26 for the 1/2 mile and a blazing bike split.

Our Male masters winner was DAve Peterson, an incredible runner and overall athlete, while 6 time Ann Arbor winner Karen McKeachie destroyed her age group field in 1:38:09.

Matt West and Monica West both won their age categories after Monica opened our race with a wonderful rendition of our National Anthem.

The female 35-39 age category, a hard-fought age category filled with talent, was won in commanding style by Amy Gluck in 1:40:32. Gluck trained hard over the off season and is bang on form for the 2007 year.

Lou Probst stormed the huge men’s 40-44 field with a beautifully balanced combination of splits to win this cmpetitive age catgory by a commanding 2+ minutes. Lou is also poised for a devastating season in his age category. Late last year Probst was heard to say, “This year I want to do everything right.” He certainly got it right in Ann Arbor.

Robin Wooldridge always races well at Ann Arbor and Sunday was no exception as she put nearly 2 minutes into 2nd place Ann Demko for a win in the women’s 40-44.

The dashing Arcadio Ramirez turned on the style to shoot from the water in only 12:46 and lay down a 23 m.p.h. bike split and then administer a coup de grace to the men’s 45-49 field in only 1:30:40, another nearly 2 minute trouncing of his age category. John Battista looked solid in 2nd with Jeff Beagle, always near the top, in third for the men 45-49.

Ann Marie Phillips, a very versatile multisport athlete, was typically fit and fast as she won yet another age group title in 1:39:30 for the top spot among the women 45-49.

Dentist and Chinese language interpreter Dennis West used his fitness from a previous 1/2 Ironman event in California to win the men’s 60-64 by almost 9 minutes. John Stover nothes his belt for another age category win in the 65-69 in an impressive 1:39:55.

Overall, a fine day and a great race. Thanks to al wh came out and everyone who helped.
Results link:
http://www.eliteendeavors.com/...i/2007/07_tri_ag.htm

2

Nice report Tom, Thanks for supporting all the athletes out there Sunday.

Race took a different tone for me as my training has been off this year. It was nice to race not going all out. I went hard but always saving a little bit to make sure I could finish it strong. For me the race was more enjoyable with out the pain of pushing yourself to the max.

Great weather great race and I didn’t get sick yet from the water :slight_smile:

3

Tom,

It was a great day for a race. The weather was perfect. I was very pleased with some of the “infrastructure improvements” that Joyce and Jim added since last year. All of the areas were much better marked than in years past. I really loved the “swim out” and the finisher’s tunnel.

The only down side (besides my own mediocre race performance) was the post-race food. I don’t have a taste for hot dogs (or veggie-dogs) an that was their only option. In years past they have had subs or pizza which seems a little more versatile. But this is a small thing.

I have always come away from an Elite Endeavors race with a positive feeling, and this year was no exception.

25.3 mph!?!?! That is an incredible pace on that course. The road conditions alone (think Iraq and then add some pot-holes) would seem to hamper that kind of performance. All I can say is WOW!

Bernie

4

Thanks for the mention Tom, this was my third year in a row doing the race and its been a blast every time.

My parents were visiting from England and not only was this the first time they have seen me racing but their first experience of a triathlon. They had a great time.

Its worth noting and rather scary for those that race against the overall winner DeCook is that this was him in a somewhat out of shape form! I was told that he is recovering from shoulder surgery with only 3 swims under his belt so far this year!

Triavis will be one to watch as well, some consistent work on his running will push him up the ranks fast. This race follows a trend I’m seeing all across Michigan and gets more competitive every year.

5

You had a great race man. Way to go. Pleasure watching you race.

6

Thanks for the nice comments on race day about my bike dismount. I heard you as I came in.

Hearing that really helped me despite having a rather bad bike day.

jaretj

7

Jaret,
You looked good coming in and out of transition.

8

I thought you looked pretty good all day. I saw you out of the water too. It felt hot to me that day, and I am not used to the heat yet. I was getting too hot just announcing. If you felt a little flat it may have been because it got so darn warm as the day went on, that, and the toughest trail run in the sport in our state…

Good job Sir.

9

It’s great to be able to get your perspective on the athletes in your race report and it made a big difference when you were announcing at the event. Thanks for everything you put into making the experience better.

10

I think some of those Mongolian BQ athletes were down at the TripleT with lots of other fast Michigan types (gavnuns, efernando, etc.) They were all fast!