SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS
FOR CURRENT POINT STANDINGS
AUGUST 14 TRIATHLON - CSTS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE
Online registration for CSTS # 4 (August 14) will be available at Active.com through midnight Friday, August 12. Race site registration and packet pickup will be available from 5-7 PM on Saturday at the Park and resuming at 6 AM on Sunday morning. It is a GREAT idea to pickup on Saturday, particularly if it is your first CSTS race. It really does help to get that taken care of at a leisurely pace and avoid some of the angst on Sunday morning. It also is a great time to preview the swim and the set-up. If you can't take care of business on Saturday arrive early (before 6:15 AM) to avoid longer lines.
Remember to reuse your swim cap during the Series; the wave assignments and swim cap colors will remain the same for all race dates To be eligible for Series Championship standing, triathletes must remain in the same age group for the duration of the Series. PLEASE, if you have a birthday during the Series that will move you into a different age group, please let the registration staff know before you pick up your race packet.
The Championship race in the Series will determine twenty-seven Division and Age Group champions. This is going to be fun! Thanks for supporting CSTS, be careful in your training and see you on the 14th.
Paul and Kathleen King
MISSING WETSUIT
One of our participants from the July 10th race misplaced his Ironman wetsuit. If it was inadvertently picked up, please contact us so we can get it back to it's owner. |
RACE REPORTS
CSTS #1 (June 19th)
Talk about ideal weather conditions; morning temperatures in the
mid-sixties, slight cloud cover and a fast field led to perhaps the fastest
overall Series race in CSTS history. Last season in four races we had a
total of nine athletes break the one hour mark. In the opening race of the
2005 Series we had six tigers charge past the one hour mark. But throughout
the results were terriffic performances. From ages 11 to 75 it was quite a
day to be swimming, biking and running.
In the Men's Open/Elite Division Jerry Rothschild (Savannah, GA.) and Zach
Stroud (Charleston) put on quite a show. They essentially ran shoulder to
shoulder pretty much the whole way on the run with Jerry making a decisive
move at the turnaround (2.5 miles) at the park entrance that enabled him to
claim title to this seasons first race. Both athletes broke 57 minutes (a
rarity) with Jerry, 56:52, and Zach (56:59) establishing their duel as one
to remember. It was particualrly sweet for Jerry on father's day with his
two young children and wife in attendence. Zach, having captured first place
in the Coastal Triathlon back in April, continues to excel in his racing and
will certainly be a factor the rest of the season.
One of the facets of CSTS that adds an extra dimension of interest is that
in order to race in the Open/Elite Division you must enter the Open/Elite
Division which makes a person ineligible for age group consideration. Last
season Tracy McKee (Charleston) was unbeatable in the very competitive 30-34
age group; she captured first place in all four races. This season she opted
to race Open/Elite. Nice choice Tracy! Although she finished second her time
of 1:04:37 was about 5 minutes faster than her times last season. However,
Jenny Leiser (Charleston) again demonstrated that at this point she may be
the woman to beat. Her time of 1:04:09 was the fastest woman's time in a
couple of years. This is Jenny's second consecutive victory having won the
last triathlon in the 2004 Series.
45 year old Nancy Thomas and 47 year old Steven Swavely won the Master's
Championships. Don't think things get less competitive when you hit 40. Not
when you have to race veterens like Nancy and Steve.
Ashleigh Walters captured the Athena title, with David Barnett (1:03: 23)
edging perennial Clydesdale power Peter West by 19 seconds in the Clydesdale
Division. Close finishes abounded; Betsey Reves won the women 25-29 age
group by 6 seconds over Ingrid Brown, John Bergtson in the men's 25-29 age
group edged Lat Purser by 20 seconds, Dana Pellizzari in the women's 35-39
age group beat out Caroline Sinkler by 7 seconds, and James Green bested
Keith Douglass by 6 seconds in the Men's 60-64 age group.
Fast or slower it was a great day at the Park. Photos from the race are posted on Alan Rubin's website. The musician that a number of people asked about is Citizen Cope. Other music included Wild Asparagus (the fiddley, mountain music), Donna the Buffalo, String Cheese Incident, Dub Side of the Moon (reggae version of Dark Side of The Moon), Trey Anastasio, Little Feat, Neil Young, and the Beach Boys.
CSTS #2 (July 10th)
With tropical storms and hurricanes blowing through the Caribbean and the
Gulf, over 290 athletes registered for the second race in the 2005
Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series. Fortunately, the localized rain storms
held off for the race. However, the humidity was tough and some of the times
of the day were certainly impacted.
Tracy McKee (1:06:39) topped Maryshell Zaffino by over a minute to capture
the Women's Open/Elite Division title. This was a great triumph for Tracy as
she won her first CSTS Open/Elite race. Maryshell bested Tracy in both the
swim and the run, but a very strong bike by Tracy created more than enough
margin to claim the victory.
The Men's Open/Elite again featured a showdown between Tom Mather and Gregg
Cromer. Tom entered the July 10th race undefeated in 13 consecutive CSTS
races dating back to 1991. Last season Tom nipped Gregg in a classic duel in
the finale of the CSTS 2004 season by a third of a second. The rematch was
just part of a field that was deep and strong.
Tom claimed his 14th consecutive CSTS victory in convincing fashion. His
winning time of 56:52 is remarkable, particularly for a 47 year old
competitor. Gregg finished third with Zachary Stroud second. For Zach this
is his second consecutive CSTS second place. Pretty great accomplishment
when every race features a field that has some of the top competition from
around the Southeast. Last season (in four races) we had nine athletes break
the one hour mark. This season in two races we have already had 10.
Nancy Thomas (1:10:41) again was the Women's Master's Champion. Scott Gress,
43, was the Men's Masters Champion with a time of 1:00:30. How good was
that? Try FIFTH best time of the day (including Open/Elite Division).
Melanie Stuart won the Athena Division in an excellent time of 1:17:58.
David Barnett (16th overall in the race) won the Clydesdale Division with a
time of 1:04:09.
The age range in the race was from 11 year old Jack Felix (who captured his
second consecutive CSTS race) to 74 year old Ed Snape. Notable performances
of the day include Chris Rudic, 1:00:48 (Men 25-29), Nick Felix, 1:01:44
(Men 35-39), Jami Schaffner, 1:09:31 (Women 20-24), Tara Saville, 1:09:29
(Women 30-34), and Laura DeChamplain, 1:09:25 (Women 35-39). Great
performances by the under 40 crowd. But how about 52 year old Rick James'
time of 1:06:44 or Keith Douglas (63) posting a time of 1:16:44 or Richard
Webster (66) winning his age group with a time of 1:15:28.
Our "favorite" time of the day was turned in by our friend Charles Blackmon
who won his age group with a time of 1:15:42. It's not the numbers that make
Charles' effort so great, but it is knowing the struggle that Charles has
had to overcome to get back into his competitive groove. For Charles to
fight through his illness with courage, dignity, and determination, and to
continue to use CSTS as a benchmark for his comeback means more than words
can express. Great job Charles!
CSTS #3 (July 31st)
The hot, hot weather finally broke the weekend of CSTS # 3. Charleston had
experienced 17 consecutive days of 90 plus temperatures with regular heat
advisories pushing well over 100 and 110 degrees. Morning temperatures on
raceday were in the lower 70's with threatening skies. For the most part the
Park stayed dry until the awards ceremony but the turnaround on the bike was
hit with a short monsoon that significantly decreased visability and flooded
some of the streets.
In the Men's Open/Elite Division Zach Stroud crushed the field with a
blistering 56:30- the fastest time of the season. After two excellant second
place performances Zach finally captured his first CSTS victory. Jerry
Rothchild, who won the first CSTS race of the season, dropped to fourth
place in the July 31st triathlon having experienced equipment problems on
the bike costing him 90 seconds. Mark Woody (57:50) in his first Series race
of the season was second with Peter Hastings (58:02) turning in another
great performance and finishing third. Steve Fitch continued his strong
season with another top five finish.
Don't count Steve or Peter out of the Series championship but at this point
with the strength and consistency that Zach and Jerry have shown it looks
like the Championship race may come down to those two. Discarding Zach's
lowest individual race point total (since he has done all three races) his
point total is 190 compared to Jerry's 170. Since the Championship race
counts double points, "all" Jerry needs to win the CSTS Championship is to
finish one place ahead of Zach. That would give him a tie in points with the
highest position in the finale determining the winner. "All" Zach has to do
to win the title is to finish ahead of Jerry. Either way, August 14th is
going to offer some intrique and some good natured blood letting! By the
way, Tom Mather, winner of the second triathlon in the Series is entered in
the Championship race. Invite your friends and family- this is going to be
something to see.
Not to be outdone, Tracy McKee (1:06:26) outpaced the Women's Open/Elite
field and cruised to her second consecutive CSTS victory. If that wasn't
enough of a great day, raceday was Tracy's birthday. Ah, to be young,
gifted, and FAST. Sara Kraft (1:09:02) was second and firmly established
herself in the running for the Series Championship trailing Tracy by only 30
points. Staci Redinger rounded out the Women's Open/Elite field with third
place.
Lance Leopold (1:02:54) was the Men's Masters Champion. However, he trails
Randy Melko, who finished second, by 10 points in the CSTS Master's
Standings. This sets up another do or die race come August 14th. Elizabeth
McClary (1:13:23) was the Women's Master Champion and moved within 10 points
of Nancy Thomas who was the master's winner in the first two races but did
not participate in CSTS # 3. Both Lance and Elizabeth received a 10 point
bonus in their age group standings for winning the Master's titles.
Melanie Stuart (1:15:17) won her second Athena Division with David Barnett
(1:04:35) capturing his third consecutive Clydesdale Division title.
Congratulations to Jack Felix (Men 15 and under), Chris Rudec (Men 25-29),
and Tara Saville (Women 30-34) who remain undefeated in all three races this
season. About 330 athletes from ten states registered for CSTS # 3.
Twenty seven Division and Age Group Championships will be up for grabs
August 14th. Registration is available through active.com.
CSTS # 4 (August 14) The Championship Race
Under dry skies but extremely high humidity nearly 350 participants brought their A-Game to the James Island County Park for the finale of the 2005 Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series. Twenty-six division and age group titles were up for grabs. As has been the case for 15 years the final race of the Season was not only the largest but the most competitive.
Heading into the competition, Jerry Rothchild (Savannah, Ga.) and Zach Stroud (Charleston) stood poised to battle each other for the Championship in the Men's Open/Elite Division. With only 20 points separating them whoever finished ahead of the other would take the Series crown. Zach held off Jerry on the run to finish 22 seconds ahead capturing the 2005 CSTS Championship, however, the individual winner of CSTS # 4 was Leroy Thomas of Swainsboro, NC.
Leroy, a previous CSTS winner in 2004, finished 28 seconds ahead of Zach with a time of 56:35. Leroy (originally from Austalia) went out on the run in 5th place. So what did it take to win the day? Try an amazing 16:54 on the 5K run. However, hats off to Zach and Jerry who provided great competition all summer. For the record, Zach had the fastest time in the Series with a 56:30 in CSTS # 1.
In the Women's Open/Elite competition, Tracy McKee (Charleston) finished second in the Championship race but her two earlier first place finishes were more than enough to outdistance Sara Kraft and Staci Reidinger who were second and third in the Series standings. The Women's Open/Elite winner for CSTS # 4 was Jenny Leiser (Charleston) in a great time of 1:04:22. That was Jenny's second victory in the Series this season. Her swim time of 6:57 was the 4th fastest swim (men and women) of the day. Finishing in third place in the race was Patt Loggins (1:06:17). This was a great and heroic effort on Patts part as Patt has battled virtually for two years to return to some semblence of her former All American status. Before the race she said she just wanted to have fun. She did, came through healthy, and had a great race.
In the Men's Master's competion Lance Leopold won both CSTS # 4 (1:03:39) and the Series championship. The Women' s Masters Champion for CSTS # 4 and the Series was Nancy Thomas (1:09:28). Nancy, in the point standings, had all first place finishes. Great job!
Melanie Stuart also won the Athena Series Championship and CSTS # 4. Her Series Championship included all first place finishes. The Clydesdale Division offered some of the tightest and fiercest competition of the Series. Heading into the final race of the Series, Kevin Smith held a 10 point lead over Peter West, meaning that Peter would have to finish one place ahead of Kevin to capture the title. With a time of 1:04:48 Peter came from behind in the Series standings to not only capture the day but to edge Kevin by 10 points.
Series Champions (other than those mentioned earlier) with all scored first place finishes include Meridith Andrepont (women 16-19), David Thomas (men 16-19), Nick Felix (men 35-39), Jane West (women 40-44), Rick James (men 50-54), and Donald Blanchard (men 65-69). Toughest race of the day had to go to Tara Seville. Entering the race she had three first place finishes, however, Tara experienced bike problems and unfortunately finished in sixth place which was not enough to win the Series age group (women 30-34) that she had dominated all summer. The Championship went to Stephanie Lovato who also had a great summer of racing with two second place finishes and won her age group in the finale.
It was a great summer of racing. And, a great summer of spectating. Each race has three to four hundred spectators who are right in the middle of the action. The action is non-stop; exciting, friendly, and positive. A perfect reflection of the Charleston community. It's never too early to think about next year; the dates for CSTS 2006 are June 18, July 9, July 30, and August 13. Registration will be available online at active.com beginning midnight on New Year's eve.
CSTS 2005 Race Results:
June 19
July 10
July 31
August 14
CSTS 2004 Race Results:
June 20
July 11
August 1
August 22
For Specific questions about the race contact the Race Director, Paul King.
|
