The heavy summer rains in Louisiana left lakes high and muddy for 1,500 triathletes who competed Oct. 4 in the USA Triathlon National Championships in Shreveport.
A handful of locals survived lining up for the swim in knee-deep mud, producing some respectable results, including one gold medal performance by a Treasure Island's Jackie Yost. Yost, 75, became a triathlon national champion (female 75-79 division) after winning the USAT nationals (swim 1 kilometer, bike 40 kilometers and run 10 kilometers) in 3 hours, 59 minutes, 33 seconds.
Yost, along with her husband, Larry, and other members of the St. Pete Mad Dogs, has competed in more than 100 triathlons since 1993.
The Yosts met after Jackie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, when she began to work as a coach and gym teacher. Larry was a swimmer from North Carolina State, and the two discovered they had much in common. The Yosts were married on Thanksgiving weekend 51 years ago, playing golf on their honeymoon at Pinehurst, N.C.
"At nationals, the water in the lake at Shreveport was 70 degrees, so I wore my shortie wetsuit," Jackie Yost said. "Larry's wave of 55-plus men went off first, and the 55-plus ladies were lined up behind them. By the time the national anthem singing was over, the gun went off, but nobody could move. They were all stuck in the muck.
"Larry was first out of the water in his group and he ended up getting third place," Yost said. "The bikers made hay while the sun was shining, they were flying on that course. For both of us to get the certificates that say you are All-American, well, that made the trip worthwhile."
The AARP Triumph Classic, at St. Petersburg's North Shore Pool on Nov. 16, will be the next adventure for the Yosts and Jackie says she appreciates being able to compete in her own back yard.
"Oh Lord, yes, we are so lucky to be able to swim practically year-round down here," she said.
Top local competitors at USAT National Championships also include: Brianne Harrington 10th in 20-24 in 2:20:45; Danny Nolan (eighth in 45-59) in 2:07:20; and Sam Nall (10th in 60-64) in 2:29:12. Complete results are at: www.trinationals2003.com SIESTA KEY: Triathlete Marybeth Shaw, 31, of St. Petersburg won the Siesta Key Triathlon (swim 1 kilometer, bike 21 kilometers, and beach run 5 kilometers) in 1 hour, 16 minutes, 15 seconds, on Oct. 5.
Laura Drake, a professional triathlete living in Leesburg, placed second behind Shaw in 1:17:09. Drake, 35, won the Strangeman's Beach Biathlon (run/swim/run) at Clearwater Beach the previous morning.
Shaw seemed surprised to reach the Siesta Key Triathlon finish line first, but her performance was consistent with her winning streak this season, including her recent victory at the Tarpon Springs Triathlon.
"I'm really happy for Marybeth, because this shows she's got the speed and she's in great shape for Kona next week," Drake said. ROAD TO KONA: Shaw will compete at the 25th Anniversary Ironman Triathlon World Championship (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 18, along with the following Florida triathletes:
Art Halttunen, Jennifer Hutchison, Mitchell Petit and Ian Ray, all of St. Petersburg; Lara Shaw, Tampa; Roger Burke, Seminole; Karen Alexeev, Gulfport; Dean Cosgrove, Tarpon Springs; Laura Dewitt, Brooksville; Racheal Wood, Deerfield Beach; Melissa Dipple, Coconut Grove; Joe Bonness, Naples; Farshad Charmforoosh, Orlando; Jeff Cuddeback, Longwood; Paul Reback, and David Reback, North Palm Beach; Lisa Purul, Tallahassee; and Susan Wallis, Ponte Vedra Beach. Results will be available at www.ironmanlive.com HILLY 100: Member of the Tampa Bay Freewheelers and the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club will welcome Florida's touring cyclists to the annual Hilly 100 on Oct. 26 at Pasco High School in Dade City.
Ride registration opens at 6 a.m. and riders may choose from routes of 18, 34, 62, or 100 miles. The terrain is considered to be rolling and many riders use gearing suitable for hills. This is not a race. All levels are welcome and helmets are required.
Fast riders will leave in a mass start at 7 a.m. Registration is $25. For information on the Hilly 100, call Joe Neumeister, 813 832-3065; or e-mail jneumeis@verizon.net
