Davison Crowned National Age-Group Champion

Davison Crowned National Age-Group Champion

USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships

September 20, 2008 (Hagg Lake, OR) – Boulder’s Brooke Davison, 37, capped a stellar season with her overall win in the women’s race at the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships.  In total, four Colorado triathletes took top honors in their age groups at the championships.  In addition to Davison who also won the Female 35-39 age group, Steph Popelar of Parker won the Female 40-44 age group, Judyann Cummings of Denver took the title in the Female 45-49 age group, and Steve Pyle of Boulder claimed victory in the Men 50-54 age group.  Many others turned in impressive performances and earned spots on Team USA.

More than 1,000 triathletes competed in this pinnacle event of the season.  The first of 17 waves jumped into Hagg Lake at 7:15 a.m. and the action didn’t stop all day. The weather was ideal for endurance sports with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to low 60s with cloudy skies and little to no wind. Brooke Davison, 37, of Boulder, finished in 2:05:52 to win the women’s overall championship.  Jason Schott, 37, of Dahlonega, Georgia, was the overall male winner with a time of 1:54:08.

The event, USA Triathlon’s version of the “Super Bowl,” attracted athletes from 45 states ranging in age from 18 to 78. Many of these athletes have trained all season in preparation for the event, some hoping to earn a spot on Team USA by finishing in the top 16 in their age group.

With the top talent present at Hagg Lake, prestigious age group and overall honors were on the athletes’ minds.

“This is the best of the best – that’s why it’s nationals,” said Adam Webber, who finished second overall. “I put a lot of focus into preparing for this race, and the goal was to be the national champion overall.”

Steven Smith of Granger, Indiana, defended his grandmasters title with a win in the 60-64 age group. Though he had a substantial gap on second place, Smith said there was nothing easy about the race.

“This is the most challenging Olympic distance course I’ve ever done. There’s nothing flat on it – it’s just one hill right after another,” said Smith.

Despite winning another national title, Smith isn’t ready to rest – yet. He’ll compete at Kona and in Clearwater and says that the challenge is what keeps him going.

“Seeing if you can beat the calendar is part of the challenge. Every October the calendar clicks over another year and I’m just trying to get my times back to what they were the year before.”

Former elite marathoners Ellen Hart (F50-54) of Denver and Lauren Binder (F60-64) knew from experience what type of effort it would take to be successful. The two know a lot about being successful on the national stage. After all, they finished second and third to Joan Benoit-Samuelson when she set an American record in the marathon.

Now, they’ve embraced a new sport.

“To give us the opportunity to race competitively at this level at this time in our lives is the greatest gift,” Hart said. “Even though we’re so into the competitive part, there were times out there that I was just plain old having fun.”

Hart also talked about the draw of triathlon.

“I’m new to the sport and I just feel so lucky to have this second chance at trying to push my limits as an athlete and pushing my comfort zone – I don’t like being wet and I don’t like being cold,” Hart said. “Some aspects of the sport are not that comfortable, but it makes me try to be more brave.”

Men’s overall

1. Jason Schott 1:54:08
2. Adam Webber 1:54:58
3. Nathan White 1:56:03

Women’s overall

1. Brooke Davison 2:05:52
2. Cathy Yndestad 2:09:37
3. Stacey Richardson 2:09:51

Age Group Winners from Colorado

F35-39: Brooke Davison (Boulder, CO)
F40-44: Steph Popelar (Parker, CO)
F45-49: Judyann Cummings (Denver, CO)
M50-54: Steve Pyle (Boulder, CO)

First Last City Div Time Overall DivPl Swim Bike Run
Craig Greenslit Berthoud M_3539 1:58:15 11 2 22:48 58:41:00 34:44:00
Joshua Shadle Boulder M_2529 2:00:13 24 8 20:19 1:00:35 36:34:00
Cyrus Severance Denver M_2529 2:01:30 34 12 21:05 1:01:17 37:17:00
Cedric Wane Boulder M_2024 2:01:35 35 6 20:15 1:01:43 37:12:00
Aaron Hersh Boulder M_2024 2:05:05 66 17 21:52 1:02:11 38:02:00
Brooke Davison Boulder F_3539 2:05:52 70 1 18:20 1:03:55 41:09:00
Anthony Beeson Highlands Ranch M_3034 2:06:15 73 11 22:30 1:03:03 38:15:00
Sean Oneill Centennial M_3539 2:06:18 76 12 20:28 1:02:05 41:09:00
Steve Pyle Boulder M_5054 2:07:42 90 1 22:00 1:00:26 42:28:00
Kevin Gallagher Denver M_2529 2:11:53 146 26 26:03:00 1:05:24 37:24:00
Dustin Camping Fort Collins M_2529 2:11:54 148 27 22:01 1:03:56 40:51:00
Colin Schaff Littleton M_2529 2:11:56 149 28 24:14:00 1:02:54 39:39:00
Michael Orendorff Pueblo M_5559 2:12:14 155 3 22:40 1:04:39 42:11:00
Kevin Smith Denver M_3539 2:13:57 187 32 22:13 1:04:43 43:46:00
Cory Robinson Denver M_4044 2:14:14 190 29 19:07 1:07:36 44:03:00
Steph Popelar Parker F_4044 2:14:15 192 1 24:38:00 1:05:43 41:24:00
Gabe Schreiber Boulder M_2024 2:14:28 196 32 23:39 1:05:06 42:52:00
Neal McLaughlin Highlands Ranch M_4549 2:15:04 205 20 24:06:00 1:04:37 42:49:00
Steve Pye Highlands Ranch M_4549 2:16:01 216 22 23:27 1:07:09 42:26:00
Kriss Dellota Wellington M_4044 2:18:23 252 34 20:33 1:07:10 47:53:00
Barb Blakley Denver F_3034 2:18:25 254 8 25:30:00 1:06:41 43:02:00
Richard Kline Castle Rock M_4549 2:19:50 280 28 22:33 1:06:58 47:03:00
Douglas Waltermire Castle Rock M_4549 2:20:21 289 31 27:53:00 1:06:01 43:21:00
Sabrina Oei Denver F_3034 2:20:35 293 9 23:51 1:11:28 42:40:00
Julia Purrington Pine F_3034 2:20:46 298 10 23:50 1:09:27 45:01:00
Amy Dannwolf Lakewood F_2024 2:20:50 300 6 22:53 1:13:27 41:59:00
Sydney Cornell Parker F_3539 2:20:52 301 13 24:47:00 1:11:02 42:00:00
Ellen Hart Denver F_5054 2:21:21 319 4 25:29:00 1:09:29 41:06:00
Brad Vaughn Centennial M_5559 2:21:41 327 9 25:07:00 1:07:43 45:12:00
Katie Bell Ward F_3034 2:21:46 329 11 22:45 1:09:52 45:46:00
Judyann Cummings Denver F_4549 2:21:52 331 1 23:38 1:09:41 45:02:00
Sarah May Mercer Edgewater F_2529 2:22:06 335 13 26:26:00 1:10:59 41:58:00
Michelle Ford Aurora F_4044 2:23:16 356 17 21:31 1:12:15 46:28:00
Bill Ankele Centennial M_5054 2:23:22 360 25 24:32:00 1:09:14 46:27:00
Julie Olsen Louisville F_2529 2:23:35 365 15 26:30:00 1:09:55 43:54:00
Trisha Byerley Morrison F_3034 2:23:38 368 12 24:14:00 1:10:05 46:52:00
Megan Riepma Colorado Springs F_2024 2:23:45 373 11 22:51 1:14:01 44:18:00
Don Orr Boulder M_5559 2:23:59 374 13 23:40 1:11:08 45:46:00
Leanne Miller Boulder F_2529 2:24:08 377 18 24:04:00 1:12:22 44:52:00
Kathleen Allen Evergreen F_3539 2:24:21 380 18 22:47 1:11:02 47:37:00
Tyler Walton Highlands Ranch M_3034 2:24:23 382 35 23:54 1:08:51 47:02:00
Sonja Wieck Greenwood Village F_2529 2:25:15 400 19 27:30:00 1:11:42 43:32:00
Meg Gill Boulder F_2024 2:26:14 421 14 19:28 1:17:35 45:46:00
Danielle Russell Boulder F_2529 2:26:25 427 22 23:02 1:13:04 47:21:00
Elizabeth Tennant Littleton F_4044 2:27:04 440 23 27:16:00 1:10:37 46:08:00
Temple Marks Longmont F_3034 2:27:07 443 22 26:43:00 1:12:14 44:18:00
Matt Reavis Aurora M_3034 2:28:04 463 39 27:09:00 1:08:15 48:37:00
Jim Schafer Centennial M_5559 2:29:04 483 27 24:55:00 1:13:22 47:11:00
Kristine Gewin Evegreen F_3539 2:29:05 484 30 25:06:00 1:12:10 46:11:00
Alicia Caldwell Denver F_4549 2:29:10 487 8 26:25:00 1:13:10 46:35:00
Deborah Janssen Colorado Springs F_2529 2:29:40 494 27 21:27 1:14:32 50:17:00
Andie Bernard Boulder F_3034 2:30:10 507 26 25:58:00 1:14:26 46:19:00
Sharon Kolarik Littleton F_4549 2:30:47 521 10 28:11:00 1:13:56 45:21:00
Trista Francis Highlands Ranch F_3539 2:31:04 528 35 28:49:00 1:11:49 47:29:00
Elizabeth Whitfield Lakewood F_3034 2:31:22 534 28 27:36:00 1:09:51 51:00:00
Michelle Cox Palmer Lake F_4044 2:31:37 538 30 24:48:00 1:13:16 49:23:00
John Murtaugh Littleton M_4549 2:31:39 540 52 28:13:00 1:14:21 45:28:00
Neal Oconnor Denver M_4549 2:32:21 551 53 29:48:00 1:10:20 47:41:00
Derick Page Fort Collins M_3034 2:33:09 564 41 28:30:00 1:11:22 50:27:00
Jennifer Boone Boulder F_2024 2:33:42 569 19 26:51:00 1:16:47 47:25:00
Richard Kylberg Denver M_4549 2:33:59 574 55 27:52:00 1:14:07 46:31:00
Joy Rasmussen Steamboat Springs F_5054 2:34:02 576 12 26:37:00 1:11:54 51:42:00
Amy Turner Denver F_3034 2:34:46 587 32 22:21 1:19:45 48:30:00
Ashley Naegele Carbondale F_3034 2:36:36 616 33 22:50 1:18:34 51:30:00
Barry Cross Denver M_5559 2:36:58 619 35 27:11:00 1:12:15 53:35:00
Stephanie Murphy Berthoud F_3034 2:38:49 640 36 27:59:00 1:15:28 52:13:00
Julie Sturgeon Littleton F_3539 2:40:42 664 44 29:58:00 1:17:08 49:36:00
Dave Robinette Centennial M_6569 2:40:47 667 6 26:13:00 1:14:04 53:02:00
Daniel Hauser Centennial M_3539 2:41:27 674 56 32:12:00 1:12:55 52:24:00
Noell Blevins Parker F_3539 2:41:56 677 47 27:37:00 1:16:47 52:54:00
Lynnda Best-Wiss Boulder F_5559 2:42:19 682 6 27:18:00 1:20:33 50:59:00
Michael Chessnoe Denver M_6569 2:42:25 685 9 27:23:00 1:15:46 52:58:00
Jenna Blongiewicz Highlands Ranch F_2529 2:44:15 703 43 22:13 1:22:44 55:44:00
Susan Johnson Denver F_4044 2:46:16 724 44 30:37:00 1:18:06 53:11:00
Lori Dandley Denver F_5559 2:47:51 740 10 27:11:00 1:19:27 56:51:00
Jeanne O’Regan Chico F_5054 2:49:44 754 28 28:06:00 1:14:21 1:03:20
Jean Bustard Littleton F_5054 2:52:26 767 30 25:38:00 1:24:22 57:02:00
Steve Gerhardt Vail M_5559 2:57:14 794 44 29:42:00 1:24:36 55:25:00
Andrea Watkins Highlands Ranch F_3539 3:04:51 828 60 27:15:00 1:28:14 1:04:33
Sharon Mau Lakewood F_5054 3:05:28 829 44 31:46:00 1:26:07 1:03:23
Patti Townsend Evergreen F_6569 3:39:18 877 5 36:51:00 1:42:01 1:14:19
Ellen Porter Lakewood F_5559 4:05:04 886 22