VANCOUVER, Canada – For the first time in the 20-year history of the International Triathlon Union’s Olympic distance age group World Championship, 55-degree water and a nasty, 5-foot wind chop forced race directors to cancel the swim for two-thirds of the field. With multiple timing difficulties engendered by switching to a duathlon format in mid-race and placing all 1,702 competitors on a three kilometers short of 40km four-loop bike and a two and one-half loop run, all results and designated age group winners were provisional.

ITU World Championship technical delegates and the race director, in consultation with the race medical director, made the decision to cancel the swim after the women’s 45-49 and 50-54 age group waves had started. At that point, 672 competitors started the swim, and 1,030 – all the women 55-and older plus all male competitors – were switched to a hastily adapted duathlon format of 3km run, a shorter than standard 37-kilometer bike and a 10km run.

The group braces itself for an ice bath before the swim was called off

Photo: Timothy Carlson

With race officials citing safety concerns, many U.S. veteran age group competitors grumbled that the water temperatures were no colder than a typical swim at the Pacific Grove Triathlon, the water no rougher than many a triathlon at Oceanside. But in combination with high winds and air temperatures dipping into the mid-50s at race time, many competitors were pulled out of the moiling gray waters shivering with hypothermia. In fact the numbers of rescue workers in Boston whalers and kayaks, and lifeguards on surfboards appeared to be overmatched by the numbers of triathletes requiring rescue.

Before the race, the race medical director cut back the point-to-point swim at English Beach from the standard 1500 meters to 1100 meters to avoid placing athletes in waters near 12 degrees Celsius (about 55 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than 30 minutes. With raging currents driving swimmers toward shore, swimmers actually had to fight through much of the original distance just to stay on course.

As rough as conditions were Saturday, they were much milder than the torture suffered by contestants in Thursday’s Junior World Championships. On that day, the ill effects of equally cold and turbulent water were amplified by freezing rain that local meteorologists labeled the “coldest

The tri becomes a du

Photo: Timothy Carlson

June day in 50 years” in Vancouver. Several Junior Worlds competitors, with freezing fingers unable to unbuckle, completed the final run with their bike helmets on.

As for the competition, medals are still on hold. Despite the best efforts of the beleaguered timing crew, no overall women’s winner could be determined with any certainty immediately after the race.

The four fastest women’s overall times and five of the women’s age group winners were achieved with unrealistically swift run times. Elements of the race that would tend to lead to faster-than-standard overall times included shortening the swim by 400 meters (6-8 minutes) and a two or three kilometer short bike (5-7 minutes). Still, apparent confusion over the two and one half loop run course likely led several women, with no presumption of intent, to miss one of the run loops.

Coincidentally, American women made all of the prominent questionable times.

Ashley Morgan of the USA was listed first in the 20-24 age group. But her 1:56:46 overall time included a 25:43 run – well below the men’s 10km world record. Jenny Fletcher of the USA was listed first in 30-34, but her 1:57:51 overall time included a run time of 29:01. Marti Reimer-Reiss of the USA was listed first in 35-39, but her 1:56:15 overall time included an impossibly short bike

An age grouper rides the Vancouver waterfront

Photo: Timothy Carlson

time. Shelow Macdougal of the USA was listed as winning 45-49, but her finish time of 2:03:39 included an unrealistic run split of 30:12. Kim Cole of the USA was listed first in 50-54, but her 2:10:25 overall time included an unrealistic 31:15 10km run split.

Still, if there are no further corrections to the medalists, American women likely took three gold (Kelly Molaski in 50-54, Anne Erickson in 65-69, and Molly Hayes in 75-79); three silver (Linda Robb in 40-44, Holly Nybo in 45-49, and Sharon Roggenbuck in 70-74); and six bronze (Jessica Broderick in 18-19, Annie Carrino in 45-49, Karen Chequer-Pfeiffer in 50-54, Sally Long in 55-59, Lauren Binder in 60-64, and Sheila Isaacs in 70-74).

If there are no further timing anomalies among the remaining medalists Michelle Wu of Australia, the winner of 25-29, would be the overall women’s winner in 2:00:14.

With all men’s division s operating in the duathlon format, there were fewer extremely short run splits. Still, the top three men’s overall times listed had unrealistically swift splits that indicate at least inadvertent missing of various loops on the run and bike.

Men's 20-24 winner, Tony White of the U.S.

Photo: Timothy Carlson

Federico Lopez of Mexico, listed as the winner of the 30-34 division in 1:31:47, had an unrealistic run split of 23:11. Alexander Etchill of the USA, listed as the winner of the 25-29 division in 1:32:07, had an unrealistic combined first run and bike split of 52:57. And Guillermo Anaya of Mexico, listed as the second place finisher in 30-34 in 1:34:19 had an unrealistic first run and bike time of 54:40.

This leaves the USA’s Eric Bell, 28, the likely men’s overall winner in 1:37:58. If his overall time stands up under expected extensive review, he has extended a string of US men taking the overall ITU age group World Championship title to three. Bell follows in the footsteps of Marc-Bonnet-Eymard’s 2006 overall title in Lausanne and Ben Collins’ overall win last year in Hamburg.

Bell, 28, a former University of Tennessee runner with a 5k PR of 14:18, is in just his third season as a triathlete. This year he placed second overall amateur at St. Anthony’s and was one of the top finishers at a race for promising elite competitors held at Tuscaloosa Alabama the day after the second 2008 US Olympic Trials.

Men's 50-54 1-2 finishers, Tony Schiller and Steve Pyle

Photo: Timothy Carlson

Barring further corrections to the men’s medalist results, American men likely scored four gold (Tony White in 20-24, Eric Bell in 25-29, Tony Schiller in 50-54, and Charley French in 80+); six silver (Joseph Welch in 18-19, Mark Harms in 30-34, Craig Greenslit in 35-39, Steve Pyle in 50-54, Jon Adamson in 70-74, and Lew Hollander in 75-79); and two bronze (Michael Orendorff in 55-59 and Gary Leske in 70-74).

Despite the turbulent weather, there are no announced changes to tomorrow's under23 and elite races. Any change to the race distance will be race day decisions. As this is a world championship and the final event with Olympic qualifying points at stake, organizers will endeavor to keep the elite race unchanged.

2008 ITU Age Group Olympic Distance World Championship
Vancouver, Canada
June 7, 2008
S 1.1km/B 37km/R 10km
after swim canceled R 3km/B 37km/ R10km

Very unofficial results

F 18-19

1.Courtney Gilfillan (AUS) 2:03:52
2. Tracey Steens (NZL) 2:07:33
3. Jessica Broderick (USA) 2:08:24

F 20-24

1. Ashley Morgan (USA) 1:56:46 * unrealistic run time
2. Carla Germishuys (ZAF) 2:02:53
3. Rachael Paxton (AUS) 2:04:40
4. Jennifer Hall (CAN) 2:05:02

F 25-29

1. Michelle Wu (AUS) 2:00:14
2. Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR) 2:00:19
3. Martina Wan (CAN) 2:04:00

F 30-34

1. Jenny Fletcher (USA) 1:57:51 * unrealistic run time
2. Kym Jaenke (AUS) 2:04:17
3. Jill Parker (GBR) 2:04:17
4. Janine Sax (NZL) 2:06:32

F 35-39

1. Marti Reimer-Reiss (USA) 1:56:15 *unrealistic run time
2. Kristina Schultz (CAN) 2:03:15
3. Sophie Whitworth (GBR) 2:06:17
4. Lisa Greenfield (GBR) 2:09:05

F 40-44

1. Stephanie Kieffer (CAN) 2:07:57
2. Linda Robb (USA) 2:08:08
3. Lyndsey Clapperton (CAN) 2:10:17

F 45-49

1. Shelow Macdougal (USA) 2:03:39 * unrealistic run time
2. Juliet Vickery (GBR) 2:135
3. Holly Nybo (USA) 2:13:46
4. Annie Carrino (USA) 2:14:43

F 50-54

1. Kim Cole (USA) 2:10:25 * unrealistic run time
2. Kelly Molaski (USA) 2:10:44
3. Sheri Fraser (CAN) 2:12:07
4. Karen Chequer-Pfeiffer (USA) 2:16:05

F 55-59

1. Lynn Pattle (NZL) 2:08:08
2. Julie Wagner (NZL) 2:09:37
3. Sally Long (USA) 2:13:53

F 60-64

1. Barbara Leverett (GBR) 2:12:47
2. Laurie Murray (CAN) 2:13:00
3. Lauren Binder (USA) 2:13:32

F 65-69

1. Anne Erickson (USA) 2:21:02
2. Corinne Goodman (CAN) 2:23:15
3. Louise McGonical (CAN) 2:27:13

F 70-74

1. Helga Schumacher (GER) 2:43:21
2. Sharon Roggenbuck (USA) 2:51:23
3. Sheila Isaacs (USA) 3:02:42

F 75-79

1. Molly Hays (USA) 3:31:49


ThE MEN

M 18-19

1. Dominik Treuherz (GER) 1:44:49
2. Joseph Welch (USA) 1:45:48
3. Eric Lagerstrom (USA) 1:46:51

M 20-24

1. Tony White (USA) 1:40:10
2. Matt Adams (NZL) 1:41:33
3. Lee Greer (NZL) 1:41:37
4. Matt Long (USA) 1:41:50

M 25-29

1. Alexander Etchill (USA) 1:32:07 * unrealistic run time
2. Eric Bell (USA) 1:37:58 * probably overall age group champion
3. Stephen Bourque (CAN) 1:38:10
4. George Stirling (NZL) 1:38:49

M 30-34

1. Federico Lopez (MEX) 1:31:47 8 * unrealistic run time
2. Guillermo Anaya (MEX) 1:34:19 *unrealistic bike time
3. Mark Couldwell (GBR) 1:38:57
4. Mark Harms (USA) 1:39:50
5. Kevin Beatty (CAN) 1:39:52

M 35-39

1. Andriy Yastrebov (UKR) 1:38:00
2. Victor Gonzalez (MEX) 1:39:11 * unrealistic run time
3. Craig Greenslit (USA) 1:39:36
4. Mark Livesey (GBR) 1:39:58

M 40-44

1. Thomas Emerick (USA) 1:33:0o4 * unrealistic run time
2. Michael Hay (CAN) 1:40:36
3. Calvin Zariski (CAN) 1:40:50
4. Peter Walker (AUS) 1:41:00

M 45-49

1. Trace Harris (GBR) 1:42:14
2. Mark Hirsch (GBR) 1:43:35
3. Dariusz Cyzyowicz (POL) 1:43:58

M 50-54

1. Tony Schiller (USA) 1:45:26
2. Steve Pyle (USA) 1:48:46
3. Michael Gowing (NZL) 1:49:03

M 55-59

1. Barry Jameson (GBR) 1:48:04
2. John Hellemans (NZL) 1:50:21
3. Michael Orendorff (USA) 1:51:23

M 60-64

1. Richard Holloway (USA) 1:57:50
2. Bradley Price (USA) 1:59:45
3. Richard Melvern (GBR) 2:00:03

M 65-69

1. Peter Wood (NZL) 2:01:31
2. Ron Empey (CAN) 2:06:55
3. Robert Butler (GBR) 2:06:56

M 70-74

1. Guenter Beilstein (GER) 2:08:20
2. Jon Adamson (USA) 2:09:16
3. Gary Leske (USA) 2:15:23

M 75-79

1. Raymond Colliver (CAN) 2:28:17
2. Lew Hollander (USA) 2:39:49
3. Alec Hill (NZL) 2:40:00

M 80+

1. Charley French (USA) 2:44:59