Race Coverage

"It's Like Going to the Bar..."

Thursday, 14 October 2010 06:10

BOUS Race Coverage - Diane Hankee is a hoot. She's an outspoken Canadian--she's originally from Sasquatchuwan--who adores her prematurely gray husband but thinks that David Thompson is totally cute. When asked to comment on her Best of the US experience--she placed 19th against the toughest head-to-head women's (short course) field of the year--she became momentarily pensive then e-mailed us these uncharacteristically terse, and definitely pithy, words:

"BOUS is a great competition to keep you wanting more. It's kind of like going to the bar or a party in college. You show up and everyone is eyeing each other up wondering how good that person is. Then you party (race) and get your butt kicked by some OC hills and end up with a painful hangover..... I can't wait to do it again."...

Great simile that grows into a full-blown metaphor. Very cool! Thanks, Diane. Most engineers--Diane is a civil one, which we think means that she's usually very courteous when she does engineering stuff--aren't nearly as wistful or prosaic. (Photo R - Diane hung loose at the beach in the days leading up to the race.)

In case you don't know, the Best of the US Tri Series features a qualifying event in each state, with the top resident amateurs receiving invitations to represent themselves and their states in a Championship race. As in 2009, this year's Champs were contested in scenic, upscale, surgically-enhanced and perpetually tan, Eucalyptussy Mission Viejo, California.

The Race:

The furnace kicked on at approximately 8:15 AM on Sunday when most of the participants had at least an hour's worth of racing still ahead of them. The combination of kick-ass courses and broiling heat were chimera-ishly reflected in the finishing times.

As you may already know, Team Minnesota's Matthew Payne capped his brilliant 2010 with a 3rd place overall finish at BOUS. His time and place combined with fellow Loon Stater Julia Weisbecker's 11th in the women's contest earned a 3rd place award (classy and totally artsy-fartsy Kosta Boda by Orrefors Swedish crystal) in the Fastest State Team competition. (See photo above L)

Julia posted a great race report on her blogsite, replete with tons of fantastic photography. Please check it out: LINK. And her dear friend and former Minnesotan who represented Team North Carolina at the 2006 BOUS Champs, Marit Chrislock-Lauterbach posted lots of cool words and images on her site, too: LINK

For a race overview, here are some purloined words form BOUS Executive Director Trudy Marshall:

"40-year-old Jens Beck from Alaska is the first-ever Master to win the Championship title. Beck has a long history with Best of the U.S., climbing from 8th place in 2006, to 5th in 2009, and now National Champion. Team Alaska went home with the Fastest Coed Team, Fastest Men's Team, and 2nd Fastest Women's Team awards. "

And:

"Oklahoma's Joanna Fiddler put her state in the record books as first-ever repeat Champion (Bethany Handley, also from the Sooner State, was 2009 women's Champion). A very successful road racer, recently-turned-triathlete, Fiddler has proved herself a force to be reckoned with. Right behind her and equally delighted by her accomplishment is Fiddler's Oklahoma teammate Travis Newton. (toothy photo below L)

fiddler

BOUS celebrated it's 6th anniversary last Sunday and lots of cool and historically significant stuff happened?

Like what, you ask?

Here's a few bullet points:

* The men's race was won for the first time by a 40-plusser. In fact, three masters cracked the men's Top 5. Previously, no event had more than one master in its Top 5.

* Three masters cracked the women's Top 10. Previously, only one 40+ woman--Donna Kay-Ness' in 2005--had ever reached the ten-step podium.

* Mark Harms (WI) became BOUS' first three-time Podium finisher (3rd in 2006, 3rd in 2009, 2nd in 2010)

2010 BOUS MEN'S PODIUM..

1. Jens Beck, 40, Anchorage, AK - 1:58:58

2. Mark Harms, 35, Madison, WI - 2:00:09

3. MATTHEW PAYNE, 33, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS,MN - 2:00:35 (photo L)