I realise that ITU World’s, is still on the agenda for 2003 as well as races such as Ironman Florida ,Treasure Island or Laguna Phuket, but at this point, it you were to vote for one athlete, regardless or gender or distance for triathlete of the year, who would it be:
Reid: Great victory at Hawaii, but relatively lacklustre remainder of the year
Tim deBoom: Had a solid early season, but DNF at Hawaii
Macca: Awesome year and he would get my vote if he could have got into the top 5 at Hawaii
Luke Bell: This guy was in the hunt in every race that he entered this year and blew the field away at Eagleman and Vineman
Lisa Bentley: After winning Ironman OZ (4 weeks after 3rd at NZ), goes on an incredible half Ironman winning streak, often running faster than many top 10 male pros. 5th at Kona to boot
Barb Lidquist: Took Lifetime, wins or is on the podium in pretty well every race she enters whether it is draft legal or not
Lori Bowden: Takes Kona and quite solid at other races.
I’d have to flip between Barb lindquist and Bentley. Thoughts ?
A 3,1,1,5 finish for 4 IM’s in 1 year ain’t too shabby.
Lindquist though. Holy schmoly! Not only has she won just about every race she’s entered this year, but she’s entered something like 15 races. Hard not go with someone that wins 10 professional races in a year, two years in a row (10 in 2003, 8 in 2002).
Heather Gollnick would be my pick for 3rd.
Men! Yikes. That is much harder.
I guess I’d have to go with Lessing simply because his win/race percentage was really high and he had several non-drafting races against tough fields. Sure hope to see him in more distance races next year.
If one of earlier IM winners this year can repeat at IMFL I’d be inclined to give them a vote. Tissinik? Harju? Any other winners racing?
Lisa gets my vote for the women. She won almost every race she entered this year except for the 3rd at NZ and 5th at Kona (still very impressive). She also broke 3 hours in two of her marathons which is awesome plus she kicked my ass by a couple of minutes at Muskoka last spring. Too bad she is not racing in Florida … I figure she’d be tired enough that I’d have a shot Lindquist was awesome all season too so she would get my vote for short course.
For the men? Did anyone consistently win all season? If you go by the winner of the biggest race then it would be Reid but he got smoked in Germany. Cameron Brown was probably one of the most consistent competitors all season but “only” managed to win once at NZ.
Lindquist was awesome all season too so she would get my vote for short course.