We are well into the 2009 Season and I would say all athletes are off to a great start!  A few Ironman’s were completed, some are dominating their catagories on the trails, and all are gearing up for an excellent season. 

In the Midwest: Congratulations to Cathy Yndestad and Julie Hull qualifying for Kona at Buffalo Springs and generously passing your spot on so you can head to the 70.3 Champs instead.  Jeanne Fleck, Brendon O’Flanagan, Chris Frickman, are all fairly new to the Tri-scene and are dominating with top 10 and even some top 3 overall finishes in some competitive races.   Mike Murray and Scott Ross once again are posting consistent 10 results or better in their masters divisions. Maggie Fournier is posting lots of top 3 finishes on the short and mid distance races before she takes on IM Lake Placid.

Out here in the West Ryan Geiger at age 14 is proving to be one the next up and coming mountain bike stars with wins in almost every mountain bike race he enters from state to national series races. We have Amber Rydholm with a big overall win at the Loveland Lake to Lake, Diane Souchary is scoring top 3 finishes in both running and Multisport on/off road races.  Melanie Long with multiple podium finishes on the XC Cat 1 circuit and Kelly Emrich winning killin it on the hill climb races and 80milers on trails in Germany.  At 6’7” tall Doug Andrews out raced his Clydesdale field in 2008 and know has to compete with the feather-weights in the expert division on the mountain bike and is certainly holding his own.  Peter Scharer is backing up with his strong swim/bike combo with a faster run for a great top 5 finish at the Kansas 70.3.  Tony Tousley got his qualifying spot for Duathlon Worlds and will be dialing it in for a bit 2009 finish. 

Lot of athletes have some great events coming up from Mountain Bike National Championships and Mount Evans Hill Climb this weekend and the Leadville 100mtb race in a couple months.  A lot of late season Ironman events are still in the works along with Duathlon and 70.3 World Championships.

I didn’t get everyone but at least you can get an idea of who is doing what and can introduce your self’s at the races, complain about your coach as you will have that in common and most definitely encourage each other.

Date modified: 7/7/2009