OLYMPIC RACE WRAP-UP

5/16/2005 - By T.J. Cesarz

What do you get when you mix 600+ athletes, a new racer friendly course, and outstanding south Florida weather? A great race that will have competitors talking for some time. That’s exactly what happened yesterday at the Tri Miami Olympic/Sprint Tris and Duathlon at Key Biscayne.

Although it was MultiRace’s first ever event at race mecca Crandon Park, you never would have known it. Race Director Rob Childers and his staff brought things to the next level by moving the transition area and finish line out of the parking lots to the interior of the park, cutting down the run from the swim to transition, and making a slight adjustment to the run course.

“It was a great race,” said top Clydesdale Don Sullivan of West Palm Beach. “I’ve raced a number of times here at Crandon, and this was simply one of the best. Moving the transition area to the grass really helped cut down the heat, and the overall atmosphere was awesome.”

The Olympic distance event featured over 200 competitors who were up to the task of tackling the 1.5k swim/40k bike/10k run course, - that’s a .94 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike & 6.2 mile run, in US distances! Here’s a look at what happened in all the divisions!

MALE OVERALL
As was predicted, it was all about Boris Fernandez. The Key Biscayne resident led from start to finish, taking top splits in all three disciplines on his way to the win in an impressive 2:04:18. The 31-year old Fernandez has his sites set on a big year, and this 7+ minute overall win certainly sends him in that direction! Miami’s Albert Comas was 2nd in 2:12:04, while Ronan Pavoni grabbed the bronze, clocking a 2:14:47.

FEMALE OVERALL
Juliet Lovett's trip from Tallahassee proved well worth it! Despite being down by more than two minutes out of the water, the 28-year old made up some time on the bike, and was able to put the race away on the run, as she cruised to a 10K split of 41:36, and the win in 2:22:48. Miami’s Selene Perez was a solid 2nd in 2:23:18, and Plantation’s Jenny Garcia earned the third podium spot, finishing in 2:28:12.

MALE MASTERS OVERALL
Make it 2-for-2 for Key Biscayne men! Local racer Andres Grigio dominated the division, taking a 7+ minute win over the rest of the field. Grigio’s time of 2:17:58 was good for 7th overall, at the age of 46! Mark Hassell, (WPB), was 2nd in 2:25:01, and Dirk Smeets, (Hialeah), was just behind in 3rd, finishing in 2:25:10.

FEMALE MASTERS OVERALL
The top three ladies all shattered the 3:00 mark, led by Ft. Lauderdale’s Lisa Frink, who clocked an impressive 2:36:06. 51-year old Carol Hassell, (WPB), was just behind in 2:40:35, and Sharon Opkins, (Boca Raton), was 3rd in 2:50:41.

MALE 1ST TIMERS
Tackling an Olympic distance race is a tough way to start your career as a triathlete, but Miami’s Francisco Simon made it look easy, finishing in a very respectable time of 3:13:01, at the age of 40! Great job, Francisco!

FEMALE 1ST TIMERS
How about this for a good day! Three lady 1st Timers, three times under 3:10! The lady newbies were led by Cecelia Andrea Bravo, who took top honors with the time of 3:06:07. Nicole Tristani was just :19 seconds behind, taking 2nd in 3:06:26, and Diana Bruno was 3rd in 3:09:09. CONGRATS to all these talented 1st timers!

CLYDESDALE, 185-199, 39 & UNDER
The always tough Clyde divisions featured some of the best competition of the day! Jason Barger, (Miami), swam to a 5 minute lead, and was able to hold off Doral’s John Henry, who almost caught him on the run, for the win, 2:45:00 – 2:45:13. “Big” Jim McKenna, (Palm Beach Gardens), was 3rd in 2:56:13.

CLYDESDALE, 200+, 39 & UNDER
All five competitors in this big boy division came in under 2:53! The field was led by Bob Buschemi, (Jax), who posted an impressive 2:41:15. Top Florida big man Greg Bosseler was 2nd in 2:42:05, and fellow Ft. Myers resident Michael Reese took the bronze in 2:45:32. Hernan Gonzalez, (Key Biscayne), and Tom Mooney, (Miami Beach), were 4th & 5th respectively in 2:50:32 and 2:52:38.

CLYDESDALE, 200+, 40 & OVER
Key Bicayne’s Martin Delloca recorded the top Clyde time on the day, - 2:40:49 – on his way to the win in 2:40:49. Good friend Robert Ramirez, (Miami Beach), was 2nd in 2:53:32, while Miami’s Darren McDaniel was 3rd in 2:56:14.

ATHENA
Lisa Dering, (Singer Island), raced uncontested, cruising to the win in the impressive time of 2:52:09.

FEMALE 15-19
Megan Cogburn, (Venice), the youngest of the lady competitors at age 16 took home the win in 3:05:50. She raced alongside her mom Dianne, who took 2nd in the lady’s 45-49’s with the same time. CONGRATS to the Cogburn girls!!!!!

MALE 15-19
16-year old Alex Gil, (Hialeah), finished 29th overall, clocking a solid time of 2:34:29. Doral’s Julio Patino was 2nd in 2:41:34.

FEMALE 20-24
Nicole Genta, (Coral Gables), posted the winning time of 3:03:59.

MALE 20-24
It was a 10+ minute win, and top 10 finish for Boca Raton’s George Ploetz. The 20-year old cruised to the win in 2:21:43. Another Boca athlete, Juan Acevedo, was 2nd in 2:32:03, while Karl William, (Pembroke Pines), rounded out the top three, finishing in 2:35:22.

FEMALE 25-29
More hardware for Boca! Nikole Jones gained a 5+ minute lead in the water, - great split time of 25:14! – allowing her to cruise to the win in 2:43:25. A pair of Key Biscayne residents were 2nd & 3rd. Rosa Oliva took the silver in 2:45:13 & Gretchen Bielmyer earned the bronze with a time of 2:46:26.

MALE 25-29
John Scott, (Miami Beach), took the gold in 2:34:58, Jonathan Pagalilauan, (Royal Palm Beach), the silver in 2:38:07, and Hollywood’s Joaquin Campos the bronze in 2:51:06.

FEMALE 30-34
Aventura’s Deb Marlowe was impressive, taking a 7+ minute win over the rest of the field. Her winning time of 2:44:07 included the top bike and run splits, - 1:18:54 & 48:47 – in the age group! Florencia Castillo, (North Bay Village), was 2nd in 2:51:16, and Key Biscayne’s Silvia Matt took the final podium spot, taking 3rd in 2:51:23.

MALE 30-34
The top three in the men’s 30-34’s also took 4th, 5th & 6th place overall – how impressive is that!? The “Big 3” were led by Plantation’s Rodolfo Gonzlaez who took the win in 2:15:21. Miami’s John Marshall was just :27 seconds behind in 2nd, while fellow Miamian Murilo Manocchio took 3rd in 2:17:40. GREAT JOB, FELLAS!

FEMALE 35-39
Weston’s Jennifer Magnussen was a 3-minute winner over the rest of the field, taking the win in 2:43:02. Miami’s Marina Font was 2nd in 2:46:20, and Ana Fernandez, (Coral Gables), was 3rd in 3:11:49.

MALE 35-39
It was a top 10 finish for Miami’s Esteban Lopez! The 38-year old clocked the winning time of 2:20:39, including a division best 25:11 in the swim. Ian Darrah, (Coconut Grove), was 2nd in 2:23:33. It was great to see Jim Passaro back racing in South Florida. 10 years after battling with the Picciano brothers, the big man proved he still has it, taking 3rd in 2:25:05. Ex-Clyde champion Don Sullivan, (WPB), was 4th in 2:26:04. At almost 200 lbs., Sullivan clocked an impressive 10K of 44:09, 2nd best in the division.

FEMALE 40-44
Loranne Ausley, (Tallahassee), took top honors in the ladies 40-44’s by almost 5 minutes, with a time of 2:53:48. Miami’s Jill Sreenan was 2nd in 2:58:00, and Patty Soden, (Hollywood), took home the bronze in 3:15:34.

MALE 40-44
Gernot Schaffler, (Vienna), was the winner here, earning the top podium spot with a tine of 2:40:25. Parkland;s Brian Kernan was 2nd in 2:42:38, while Miami’s Philip Alatriste was 3rd in 2:44:32.

FEMALE 45-49
Jennifer Urich, (Miami Beach), had an impressive race, breaking the 3-hour mark and taking the win in 2:56:15 – almost 10 minutes better than the rest of the field! Nicely done! Dianne Cogburn, (Venice), was 2nd in 3:05:50, and Terri Echarte, (Miami Beach), was a solid 3rd in 3:13:36.

MALE 45-49
What a great day for the Cogburn family of Venice! Mom Dianne was 2nd in her age group, - see above! – 16-year old Megan took first in the girls 15-19’s, and dad Will stepped up to take the win in men’s 45-49’s! His time of 2:37:30 included the 2nd best swim & 3rd best bike and run in the division! Orlando’s Wayne Watkins was 2nd in 2:40-flat, and Miami’s Luis Silva took 3rd in 2:41:50. FYI, Cogburn’s time was good enough for 34th overall. CONGRATS to the entire Cogburn clan on a job well done!

MALE 50-54
Top age grouper Hernan Vergara, (Sunny Isles), added another 1st place plaque to his collection, crusing to a 10+ minute win at Key Biscayne. His time of 2:33:57 was 27th best on the day, - that from a guy who’s 49 years “young!” Miami’s Alex Agurcia was 2nd in 2:44:26, and another Miamian, Ricardo Guatelli took 3rd in 2:44:56.

MALE 55-59
Lake Worth’s Bill Helfferich, one of the best age groupers you’ll find anywhere, lived up to his billing, posting a 10+ minute win as well. His winning time of 2:43:47 included the top swim and run splits of the day, including a 10K that was more than 6 minutes faster than the rest of the field. A trio of Miami athletes finished 2nd, 3rd & 4th. Chuck Breit earned the silver in 2:53:32, Jim Loretta the bronze in 3:04:21, and Charles Vick took 4th in 3:12:10.

FEMALE 60-64
Recent TV star Babette Kulka, (Hallandale), continued her prep for Ironman with a win at Crandon Park in a solid 3:46:52. Mary Ann Wallace, (Naples), was 2nd in 4:00:35.

MALE 60-64
Joe Anderson made his trip down from New Jersey even more worthwhile, as he took home the win in 3:27:13. CONGRATS, Joe – we look forward to seeing you again!

FEMALE 65-69
Talking about traveling for a race! Daphne Belt came all the way from Littlehampton, England, and took home some hardware! Gold medal, hardware that is! Great job Daphne – congratulations on your win!!!!!

MALE 65-69
Top age group swimmer Roland Samuelson, (N. Palm Beach), put it all together to the tune of a 77th overall finish, and a winning time of 2:50:24. His swim split of 31:20 was the 54th best swim of the day…Not bad for a 65-year old!!!!!