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Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race

from USA Triathlon on September 2, 2001
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The Monster Challenge Triathlon: Tri Boston/ITU Points Race
Sept. 2, 2001; Boston, Mass.
1.5K swim (two laps); 40K bike (four laps); 10K run (two laps)

BOSTON, Mass. (Sept. 2, 2001) - Paul Amey and Evelyn Williamson may have
been the race winners, but New England residents Nick Radkewich and
Karen Smyers were clearly the hometown favorites at the Monster
Challenge Triathlon: Tri Boston, an International Triathlon Union points
race Sunday in Boston.

Great Britain's Amey pulled away from Radkewich on the run to win the
men's race in 1 hour, 43 minutes, 19 seconds. Radkewich (New London,
N.H.) was second in 1:44:00 and Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla.)
was third in 1:45:13.

Williamson, a New Zealander, had to run down Canada's Tereza Macel, who
had a lead of over 2 minutes after the second transition. Williamson
finally caught Macel in the last kilometer - on a steep hill - beating
her by 9 seconds in 1:57:20. Smyers, a Lincoln, Mass., resident, was the
first American female finisher and eighth overall.

It seemed fitting that in the land of the Boston Marathon - Marathon
race director Dave McGillivray directed the triathlon and past Marathon
winner Uta Pippig participated in the age group relay race - both races
would come down to a run.

"I knew (Macel) ran a little slower, so I just went as hard as I could,"
Williamson said. "I didn't want to hold anything back."

Smyers, the reigning U.S. pro national champion, found herself well back
of the leaders following the unusual two-lap swim around Boston Harbor.
The athletes started the race in the Harbor on the east side of the
World Trade Center, swam around the Center, exited the water on the west
side, ran through the Center and got back in the water again on the
east. Both transitions were also inside the World Trade Center.

Smyers fell into the third pack on the bike, which didn't make up much
time on Macel, or the second pack of about five.

"If I had known that other group was that far ahead (on the bike) I
would have pushed the issue (on catching up)," said Smyers, who turned
40 on Saturday (Sept. 1). "I ran as hard as I could today."

Radkewich and Amey also had to use the bike to make up for lost time on
the swim. They eventually caught and passed the lead pack, with Amey
holding a slight lead as they left transition. Amey pulled ahead,
finishing the run in 30:55. Fleischmann had the second fastest run of
the day (31:24) to finish in third.

Radkewich, who had finished third behind Hunter Kemper and Fleischmann
at the U.S. Pro Championships in New York on Aug. 12, was happy with his
race and impressed by the crowd support in Boston.

"I don't think some people knew there was a race, but every time you'd
come back around you'd see them cheering," he said.

Amey and Williamson each won $5,000 for the victory.

The elite race was preceded by an age-group sprint-distance race with
about 600 entries. The age group racers each had to raise at least $500
for New England's Aids Action Committee, a support organization for those
with the disease. Film actor and writer Matt Damon was at the race to
support his brother Kent, who participated.

For complete results from the Monster Challenge Triathlon, go to
www.coolrunning.com and look under "new results."


Men
1. Paul Amey (Great Britain) 1:43:19;
2. Nick Radkewich (New London, N.H.) 1:44:00;
3. Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1:45:13;
4. Brent Foster (New Zealand) 1:45:16;
5. Alec Rukosuev (Apopka, Fla.) 1:45:22;
6. Marcin Wedlarski (Sweden) 1:45:26;
7. Carlos Probert (Mexico) 1:45:29;
8. Brian Lavelle (San Jose, Calif.) 1:45:46 ;
9. Mark Fretta (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 1:46:07;
10. Kevin Carter (Silver Springs, Md.) 1:46:26

Women
1. Evelyn Williamson (New Zealand) 1:57:20;
2. Tereza Macel (Canada) 1:57:29;
3. Samantha McGlone (Canada) 1:57:58;
4. Kathy Tremblay (Canada) 1:58:14:
5. Isabelle, Gagnon (Canada) 1:58:25;
6. Gillian Moody (Canada) 1:58:26 ;
7. Anne Marie Koszegi (Canada) 1:59:22;
8. Karen Smyers (Lincoln, Mass.) 1:59:43;
9. Christine Jeffrey (Canada) 2:00:35;
10. Laurie Hug (Ambler, Pa.) 2:00:40


Member Comments: Add A Comment
Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 3, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
I wish these big races would either hold a pro race or an age group race. Maybe it's just me, but I definitely get the feeling that age group participation in these ITU/pro events is nothing more than a necessary evil. I felt as if we we're an afterthought and not just here, but NYC, Dannon races whereever. I'm going back to the regional races without the drafting, fences and mountains of rules.
 
RE: Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 3, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
Different strokes for different folks.... that is what makes our sport great. You can be a big fish in a small pond, or go to the big races and watch the truely talented athletes who make a living at it, whatever turns your clock. But, if it is recognition you are out for then you have to pay the price...wannabees are a dime a dozen.
 
Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 3, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
Without the wannabees there would be no sport of triathlon. If the race could be done without us wannabees then why go thru all the hassle. If the age group athletes didn't show up, the race wouldn't have happened. I;m sure the previous post wasn't looking for recognition, but wanted to be treated as if his entry fee just didn't go to ITU or the pro's. I agree with the post, they give us a race only because they need our entry money.
 
Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
by BostonKid on September 3, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
The original comments that, "I wish these big races would either hold a pro race or an age group race" could not be more wrong!

The essence of Triathlon and what makes it such a great and unique sport is two things: 1) the fact that we age groupers can race the same day, the same course, and often right next to the pros. Name another sport in the world that you can do that? 2) It doesn't matter if you're a pro, an elite, a competitive age grouper, or simly trying to cross the finish line. We all have our goals and hopefully accomplish them. I still get chills watching a Dick Hoytt push and pull his son around the course and/or wathing a pro do things twice as fast as most of us. Triathlon is unique and the pro's being apart of "our" race is what makes it so great.

And the comment that without age groupers there would be no pro's... I'm not so sure of that. I think it goes both ways. Yes, we age groupers pay the entry fee's (often rather high at that), but... the pro's bring in the sponsors, the media, and thus the real $$$.
 
Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 3, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
But what about all those hundreds of races with 500 people that get NO sponsor money, maybe a food donation and have great T-shirts, a lot of awards, a great course, tons of volunteers, actually feed EVERYONE, make donations to local groups and charge $55. Geesh! they do it without the huge budgets. I am tired of seeing the pros have a huge spread of food and the age groupers get stuck with bagels and bananas. As for publicity outside of Boston, the race received zero coverage. I enjoy the sport, I pay a lot of money to participate and I don't need to jock sniff to enjoy the moment.
 
Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 3, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
The race committee brings in the sponsors - not the pro's. There must be a financial committment before the pros will even talk to us. The pro's will guarantee some sort of media coverage and the media coverage will help bring in sponsors for the next year.Hunter Kemper, Joanne Zeiger or Mark Allen are not Sammy Sosa and mean a hill of beans to sponsors. Sponsors use their money (generally) as a tax write off and to bring their product in front of the age group contingent NOT because of the pro contingent
 
RE: Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 4, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
Alright, this is down right stupid. This is such a typical "American" mentality where all we worry about is money. This is not about the dollar but about the challenge, racing amoung the greats and friends, the experiance, and the locals that come out to support the racers. I have found in my three years of racing that the people that complain about these topics are a)not concentratin on their own goals b) are no good at what they do (ie. racing) and c)frustrated with not being number one. 99.9% of us are not Watson, Kemper, Bowden or Siri. My suggustion to all of you is try going over to another country and racing (ie. Europe). Then and only then will your negative perspective change. Just go out there to have fun. Accomplish your current goals and then strive to create larger ones.
 
pro's and age groupers Reply
by BostonKid on September 4, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
That was my point.... that it's good for everyone:
Good for the race diretor, good for the sponsors, good for the pro's, good for age groupers who are 'racing', and good for the age groupers are simply there to finish.

It's a sport that should and can be enjoyed by everyone. To laugh, race, struggle, conquer, accomplish, possibly fail, win, lose, etc. It's sports and it's great!

As far as the pro's getting 'real food' and age groupers getting baggles. Come on now, are you kidding? For one, the pro's aren't exactly getting Lobster at these things. And besides, back to my original point, unlike any other sport we're as close to the pro's as possible. Yes, they may get 5,000 for winning and we only get voucher for a pair of tennis shoes for winning, but... That is closer than say the 1 million the golfers get while we play for .50 cents skins.

Triathlon is a small sport. It's for fun. It's a challenge and even a quest for some. Do it with a smile or don't even bother I figure. Stop worrying about the tiny prize purse pro's get and why the coke's and Ford's of the world aren't paying you the age grouper.
 
Monster Challenge Triathlon/ITU Points Race Reply
Anonymous post on September 4, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
Boston KID is probably right. Remember the USTS series? A lot of pros, big money - big bankruptcy. After they sucked the sport dry, it was dead for a long time except for the age group races. Every 5 or six years they try it again, go bankrupt and the local races keep the sport alive. Give these big races another year and we'll be back to the cycle. Eventually the local races won't be around either to keep the sport going. The sport was fine without pros, keep it that way.
 
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