Floridian a step ahead of field
Laura Reback, who first competed here 13 years ago, wins event with a strong run.
By LAURA LEE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - So, this isn't Laura Reback's neighborhood. She didn't learn to ride her bike on the brick roads of St. Petersburg or learn to swim in the North Shore Pool.
But for the North Palm Beach native, it's close enough.
After finishing 11th here last year, Reback marked the St. Anthony's International Triathlon Union World Cup race as one she wanted to win. Growing up in a family of swimmers and runners, she first competed here at age 15. Thirteen years later as a professional, she crossed the finish line first in 1 hour, 54 minutes, 29 seconds, eight seconds ahead of American Sheila Taormina. Her father Paul and brother John, who will compete today, met her at the finish line.
"I wanted to win because this is kind of a hometown crowd for me," Reback said. "It's as close as I'll get so, just to say thanks and feel the support."
Reback, ranked 10th in the world and third in the United States, said she thinks this is a breakthrough win because this is the first full year of competition she has had without injury. The win earned her $10,000.
"It means a lot to me to be able to get back into the game," Reback said.
After the .9-mile swim, Reback was in the middle of a large bike chaser pack behind Americans Barbara Lindquist and Taormina and Australian Loretta Harrop, who were first out of the water.
"I just said, "You know what? I'll just stick in the second pack and if we catch them, we catch them,"' Reback said.
The lead trio formed a small drafting pack and led by a little more than 30 seconds. But the larger group was too much for the three riders to hold off. Reback said it was the best-working second pack she'd ever been in.
"If you've got a bigger group working together like the chase pack was, then a smaller group really doesn't have a prayer," Taormina said. "They were just chipping away at (the lead) and we said, "You know, we could destroy ourselves on the bike and only have a 20-second lead, or we could just join them."'
Halfway through the 24.8-mile route, the chaser pack eclipsed the leaders, creating a tight 14-woman pack. The group quickly left the rest of the competitors behind, ensuring that only the strongest runners would survive.
Reback, Taormina and Germans Anja Dittmer and Joelle Franzmann began to pull away during the 6.2-mile run. Lindquist was close behind. At 11/2 laps, Reback said the Americans began pulling away, and she worked with Taormina to keep Dittmer and Franzmann back.
"Those German girls are great runners," Taormina said. "A lot of times you're hurting so bad you just want to back off, but with Laura, if I just keep next to her, we'll push each other and make the pain not feel so bad."
"We worked together, and I think that was the most productive way to do it," Reback said.
Lindquist, the top-ranked woman in the world who had won five races going into St. Anthony's, finished fifth in 1:55:02.
"I have to remember not to be disappointed with fifth," Lindquist said. "Any time you can place top 10 in a World Cup, it's all right. Just not quite as snappy today as some of the other races."
Lindquist finished first in the swim and was in the hunt until the end, but lost time on the run.
"I didn't quite have it today to zoom up there, but you can't have it every day."
Five of the top 10 finishers were Americans. Dittmer finished third in 1:54:42, and Franzmann was fourth in 1:54:55.
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