Blackwater Traverse Duathlon
Sunday, April 21, 2002
Cambridge, Maryland
10k run, 41k bike, 5k run
Men's Results, Women's Results, Searchable Results (all from www.lin-mark.com)

Sunday's second annual Blackwater Traverse Duathlon went off well with a competitive field and entrants from about 35 states. Overcast weather led to some rain late in the race, but that didn't stop 356 people from finishing.

A good pro turnout helped the race. Greg Watson led from the start, finishing 10k in 31:54, just ahead of Travis Kuhl and Todd Wiley. Todd Kitching, racing in the 25-29 age group, posted a 10k time of 31:56, just two seconds slower than Watson. Watson was the only competitor to break one hour in the 41k bike, going 59:37. That gave him a two minute lead over Todd Wiley, and Watson extended that to a 2:36 victory over the last 5k. Wiley finished second and Travis Kuhl crossed the line as the third pro finisher. But Tim Kitching, the fastest amateur, posted the third fastest time of the day to place third overall. Amateur Jon Hastings was fourth, 51 seconds in front of his brother Ben, who raced in the pro wave.

One week after an ITU triathlon in Guatemala, Desiree Ficker made a mid-week decision to race in Maryland. After wins at Dannon Florida and Powerman Alabama, Ficker was going for her third win in three duathlons this year. Her 37:38 opening 10k led Marjan Huizing and Anne Preisig by 9 and 6 seconds. Then she recorded the fastest bike split, a 1:05:26, to increase her lead to 60 seconds over Huizing. She finished in a time of 2:04:26, with Huizing in second place in 2:05:46. Cecily Tynan of Philadelphia, in just her second duathlon, was the first amateur and finished third overall. Anne Preisig was fourth and Heather Haviland fifth. Sandra Fischer, age 41, had the fastest opening 10k (37:27) and finished in sixth place.

The men's 45-49 age group is winning the battle of the over 40 crowd. David Walters, age 47, was the first Master, finishing in 1:58:57. Walters had splits of 33:30, 1:06:00, and 17:58. Dana Lyons, age 44, was second in 1:59:25. Mac Martin, age 48, was third in 2:00:18, and Dave Tierney, age 47, was fourth in 2:00:30. With the competition in the 45-49 age group the 40-44 competitors won't have it any easier when they age up.

It was a different story for the female Masters, as the top four finishers were from the 40-44 age group. Behind Masters winner and sixth place overall finisher, Sandra Fischer, was Kristin Miller (2:13:12), Angie Dello (2:17:10), and Kristin Villopoto (2:17:45).