Last year, U.S. age groupers scored 39 medals at the International Triathlon Union World Championship in Hamburg, Germany, and led all nations as Ben Collins took the men’s age-group overall gold and Leah Larson took the women's overall silver.

This year, the U.S. amateurs lost Collins and Larson to the professional ranks, but with the contest much closer to home, they hope to increase their medal take at the 20th ITU Olympic-distance world championship Saturday in Vancouver, Canada.

According to USA Triathlon, this year’s U.S. age-group team is the largest ever to qualify for an out of country Worlds, with more than 400 triathletes qualifying at the 2007 U.S. Nationals in Portland, Oregon, and at 10 regional championships.

“Not only are we competing in record numbers, the quality of this year’s team is one of the best we’ve seen in a long time,” said USAT National Events Director Jeff Dyrek.

Charley French

Photo: Timothy Carlson

U.S. world championship medallists returning from their 2007 triumphs include: F18-19 Ashley Morgan of West Point, New York; F35-39 Stacey Richardson of Chapel Hill, NC; F45-49 Annie Carrino of Portola Valley, CA; F50-54 Donna Smyers of Adamant, VT; F 60-64 Laura Binder of Portland, OR; F65-69 Graciela Val of Evanston, IL, and Peggy McDowell-Cramer of Santa Monica, CA; F70-74 Sheila Isaacs of Shoreham, NY; F75-79 Molly Hayes of Bozeman MT; M55-59 Rick Trachok of Reno, NV; M65-69 Patrick Wickens of Redondo Beach, CA; M 70-74 Jon Adamson of Alpharetta, GA; and M80-plus Charley French of Ketchum, ID.

Last year, U.S. age group athletes won eight gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.

Nineteen U.S. athletes will compete in the physically challenged world championship. Returning U.S. medallists include Amy Dodson of Adrian, MI; Beth Price of Headland, AL; Matt Perkins of Boise, ID; David Kyle of Athens, AL; Scott Bassett of Palm Desert, CA; Jonathan Bik of Sacramento, CA; and Jeff Glassbrenner of Little Rock, AK.

Last year, U.S. physically challenged triathletes won seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

Other U.S. age-group athletes to watch include M30-34 Philip Kozub; F30-34 Rachel Ross; M35-39 John Reback; M40-44 Bill Reeves and Darrin Rohr; F40-44 Steph Popelar and Linda Robb; M45-49 Emilio DeSoto and Pete Kain; F45-49 Holly Nybo; M50-54 Tony Schiller; F50-54 Karen Chequer-Pfeiffer, Bridget Dawson, Susan Griffin-Kaklikian, Kelly Molaski and Laurie Samuelson; M55-59 Jim Bruskewitz, Tim Kerr; F55-59 Diane Proud, Ann Sims, Sandi Wiebe; M60-64 Bradley Price, David Roadhouse, Kent Robison; F60-64 Trish Kimper, Phyllis Mason, Anne Wright; M65-69 David McNeely, Robert Plant; F65-69 Ann Erickson; M 70-74 Roger Brockenbrough, Gary Leske; F70-74 Susan Bradley-Cox, Jan Miller; and M75-79 Lew Hollander.