Blackwater Traverse Duathlon
Sunday, April 21, 2002
Cambridge, Maryland
10k run, 41k bike, 5k run
http://www.tricolumbia.org/bt_infor.htm
Entry List (434 as of 4/18) Registration, in any form, closes on Friday

For the second year in a row Sunday's Blackwater Traverse Duathlon is a qualifier for the 2002 Duathlon World Championships in Alpharetta, Georgia. This is the second year of the event and the field has grown significantly over last year, and should exceed 450.

A prize purse of $3,000 helped to draw a strong pro field. Although the pros will race in a separate wave, the prize money will be paid to the fastest 5 men and women (age groupers are eligible for prize money). There is also an additional $900 to be paid out in primes. A $150 prime to the fastest splits in each run and the bike. Like the overall prize money, the primes are available to the fastest competitors, not just pros.

Race director Robert Vigorito plans to make this a permanent event, growing it every year. Next year's race will see an increased prize purse and Jerry MacNeil as the race announcer. This year's event includes a pre-race meal that is free to all entrants, plus post race massages.

Several of last year's top age group athlete duathletes are racing pro this year. This includes Heather Haviland (3^rd at 2001 Nationals), Christopher Georgules (2001 National Champion), Erik Scott (6^th at Nationals), and Erik Prince (age group Duathlon World Champion).

For details on how to qualify for both the short course and long course Duathlon World Championships click here.

Pro Women
Heather Haviland, Marjan Huizing, Anne Preisig, Catherine Phillips, Desiree Ficker

Pro Men
Christopher Georgules, George Ganoung, Ben Hastings, Travis Kuhl, Greg Watson, Todd Wiley, Arland Macasieb, Erik Prince, Erik Scott

Top Age Group Athletes (a ridiculously incomplete list)
Men
Dana Lyons, Jonathan Hastings, Gabriel Urban, Rick Katouff, David Walters, Dave Tierney, Dan Rindfleisch, Bill Schweizer Jr. (age 80 - oldest male entrant).

Women
Angie Dello, Kristin Villopoto, Karen McKeachie, Marge Stahl (age 72 - oldest female entrant)