Have it Your Way at ‘My Way or the Tri Way’

By Tiffany Stasny

ISSUE #24, Fall 2004 – Action packed race transitions were one of many highlights for competitors and spectators alike in the first-ever My Way or the Tri Way triathlon at the Aurora Reservoir on Sunday, July 25th, 2004. Over 150 competitors came out to “tri” one of six different race configurations in this unique race event within the sport of triathlon. Competing for prizes, participants helped raise money for the Challenged Athletes Foundation in the 800 yard swim/15 mile bike/4 mile run event.

Overall winners for both men and women were Josh Friedman and Ann Lantz, respectively. After crossing the finish line and claiming the top-spot in the women’s category, Ann Lantz stated, “I always race to do my best and winning is such a nice perk. I was thrilled to cross the line in first place and next year will try to catch the three men in front of me!”

Josh Friedman, men’s overall winner, was equally excited and credited his victory to the intense training and direction his coach had given him. “Any race you enter in the Front Range is going to be competitive. The quality of athletes is incredible, and it is a huge accomplishment to win a triathlon in Colorado,” explained Friedman. “Strong guidance and coaching from mentors that really understand the sport helped me to elevate my performance,” added Friedman.

“We are thrilled to have played a part in triathlon history by hosting this first-ever choose your own race order event,” commented race director, Alexia Bregman. “Participant feedback has been very positive, and everyone wants to come back next year to try yet another race order! It was really fun for spectators too because there was activity on the course all the time,” added Bregman.

Top Ten Any “Order”

(Place Name “Order” Age Town Total 1st 2nd 3rd)

Women

1 Ann Lantz SBR 41 Centennial 1:28:11 15:21 43:41 27:38
2 Nanci Goldsmith SBR 37 Littleton 1:37:44 15:53 46:30 33:27
3 Heather Fent-Reed SBR 30 Silverthorne 1:41:08 17:48 49:29 30:45
4 Natasha Badillo RSB 31 Denver 1:41:21 31:02 53:44 14:40
5 Caroline Ahbe SRB 43 Centennial 1:42:59 16:55 32:22 50:15
6 Julie Daugherty SRB 37 Highlands Rnch 1:43:37 16:50 32:05 51:32
7 Dori Stoppler SRB 29 Denver 1:45:20 17:52 34:12 50:47
8 Shelby Katz SRB 33 Denver 1:46:20 18:19 32:33 53:40
9 Melissa Cohen SBR 31 Denver 1:49:00 19:25 53:36 33:15
10 Maggie Ruddy RBS 22 Golden 1:49:11 31:21 59:25 15:49

Men

1 Josh Friedman SBR 32 Boulder 1:23:03 13:15 42:17 25:56
2 Patrick Dideum SRB 22 Louisville 1:23:36 10:39 24:43 46:16
3 Sebastien Welterlin SBR 26 Centennial 1:24:16 15:10 42:51 24:25
4 Jay Luke SRB 23 Littleton 1:24:48 13:50 26:20 43:30
5 John Heisel SRB 31 Boulder 1:26:32 13:13 27:55 43:42
6 Brett Pierce SBR 32 Leadville 1:27:01 16:22 41:43 27:04
7 Kenn Seibel SBR 39 Aurora 1:31:05 16:07 45:39 25:28
8 Gregory Damian SRB 41 Centennial 1:34:36 16:21 26:03 50:00
9 Seth Turner RBS 31 Denver 1:35:15 28:16 47:57 17:00
10 Marc Boulanger RSB 30 Co. Springs 1:35:19 29:32 14:42 48:14

Fastest Finish Times for Each “Order”

Josh Friedman SBR 32 Boulder 1:23:03 13:15 42:17 25:56
Patrick Dideum SRB 22 Louisville 1:23:36 10:39 24:43 46:16
Michael De Seguin BSR 50 Denver 1:47:56 52:52 18:53 32:57
Galen Classen BRS 50 Denver 1:38:11 47:02 32:18 16:22
Marc Boulanger RSB 30 Co. Springs 1:35:19 29:32 14:42 48:14
Seth Turner RBS 31 Denver 1:35:15 28:16 47:57 17:00