Sunday’s Race Featured Talented Team USA Squad
USA Triathlon
September 4, 2011 (Zofingen, Switzerland) – A U.S. contingent of 30 age group athletes and three elites faced cold and rainy conditions and tough competition Sunday at the ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships.
Joerie Vansteelant of Belgium bested a field of elite men by more than 9 minutes, finishing the 10-kilometer run, 150-kilometer bike and 30-kilometer run course in 6 hours, 7 minutes, 15 seconds. His time also broke the course record. Thibaut Humbert of France was second, and defending champion Andreas Sutz (Switzerland) took the bronze. American Josh Beck (Carlisle, Pa.) was the top U.S. finisher in the elite race, finishing 10th with a time of 6:38:58.
Melanie Burke (New Zealand) won the elite women’s race in 7:11:43 after taking the lead on the second lap of the 150k bike course. Eva Nystrom (Sweden) took silver just ahead of Hungary’s Erika Csomor.
Five American age group athletes earned podium finishes Sunday. Team USA’s Mari Chandler (Zephyr Cove, Nev.) was victorious in the 35-39 age group, claiming the United States’ sole world title.
Earning silver for Team USA were Pamela Davenport (55-59, Blue Springs, Mo.) and Dennis Kasischke (65-69, Laughlin, Nev.), while Rich Chillingworth (60-64, Tulsa, Okla.) and Phillip Davis (65-69, Martin, Tenn.) earned bronze medals.
Team USA is comprised of amateur athletes who represent the United States at each ITU world championship event, and will be in action again this week in Beijing, China.
2011 ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships
Elite Men
1. Joerie Vansteelant (Belguim), 6:07:15
2. Thibaut Humbert (France), 6:16:58
3. Andy Sutz (Switzerland), 6:18:28
11. Josh Beck (Carlisle, Pa.), 6:38:58
16. Ryan Rau (Brighton, Mich.), 6:46:53
28. Maciej Kurka (Chicago, Ill.), 7:54:33
Elite Women
1. Melanie Burke (New Zealand), 7:11:43
2. Eva Nystrom (Sweden), 7:15:10
3. Erika Csomor (Hungary), 7:22:42
Female 35-39
1. Mari Chandler (Zephyr Cove, Nev.), 7:58:53
Female 55-59
2. Pamela Davenport (Blue Springs, Mo.), 12:07:10
Male 60-64
3. Rich Chillingworth (Tulsa, Okla.), 8:52:39
Male 65-69
2. Dennis Kasischke (Laughlin, Nev.), 9:30:31
3. Phillip Davis (Martin, Tenn.), 9:40:53
