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Skaggs caps weekend with Madeira Beach win

By JESSICA MUNDIE
Published June 21, 2006

Tampa's Rob Skaggs won last Sunday's Mad Dog Madeira Beach Triathlon (swim 0.5 mile, bike 15 miles and run 3.1 miles) in 59 minutes, 57 seconds.

Skaggs, 40, a seasoned Ironman Triathlon competitor, said he was delighted to celebrate Father's Day with a win a Madeira Beach.

After placing second the day before in the Coca Cola Sprint Triathlon at Lido Key in Sarasota (in 1:02:35; Dustin McClarty of DeLand won in 1:01:56), Skaggs was the only one to finish under an hour. He edged Orlando's Marty Gaal, 35, who came in 1:02:48.

Gaal and wife Brianne recently returned from a training and racing vacation (of several months) in Australia and New Zealand.

Brianne Gaal, 27, won the overall women's division in 1:05:59, after outrunning Sharon Beltrandelrio, 39, of Clearwater, who was second in 1:07:13. Gaal's running career at St. Petersburg Catholic built the form she still displays to win sprint triathlons with beach runs in tough conditions. Gaal (formerly Brianne Harrington) won the Subaru Women's Triathlon in St. Petersburg two weeks before.

Among the local winners at Madeira Beach Triathlon: Kerry Sullivan, 24, of St. Petersburg, in 1:05:10; George Chase, 59, St. Pete Beach, 1:15:01; Don Ardell, 68, St. Petersburg, 1:15:38; Dennis Gatto, 71, St. Petersburg, 1:34:12; Larry Yost, 76, Treasure Island, 1:39:02; Charles Lasley, 85, Belleair, 2:22:32; John Paul, 52, St. Petersburg, 1:32:22; Kailand Cosgrove, 16, Tarpon Springs, 1:08:04; 1:09:21; May-Li Cuypers, 40, Belleair Bluffs, 1:12:20; Claudia Junqueira, 43, St. Petersburg, 1:14:20; Mary Dworkin, 48, Clearwater, 1:19:35; Karen Alexeev, 54, Gulfport, 1:22:11; Mary Pulaski, 55, Largo, 1:20:34; Bonnie Theall, 61, Dunedin, 1:27:43; Annette Frisch, 65, St. Petersburg, 1:37:06; Katie Knight-Perry, 71, St. Petersburg, 1:59:53; and Jackie Yost, 1:59:16.

For complete Madeira Beach Triathlon results, visit www.madbeachtriathlon.com.

COCA COLA TRIATHLON: DeLand's Dustin McClarty won Saturday's fourth stop at the Family Fitness Weekend Series in Sarasota (swim 0.5 mile, bike 14.5 miles, run 2.6 miles) in 1:01:56.

Series leader Lotte Branigan, 35, of Vero Beach, won the women's division in 1:08:20. Laura Drake, 37, of St. Petersburg (fourth) was the top female area finisher in 1:16:08.

Winning Saturday's Family Fitness/Powerade Duathlon (run 2.6 miles, bike 14.5 miles, run 2.6 miles) was Steve Gouletas, 46, of Palm Harbor, in 1:05:13.

Other top local finishers include Javier Beuzeville, 17, of Tampa, in 1:04:17; Bethany Saunders, 12, Treasure Island, 1:26:01; Jan Thompson, 60, Tampa; Ken Page, 32, Lutz, 1:10:24; and Bo Webster, 62, Odessa, 1:18:56.

DeLAND CUP RACING: USA Cyclists have been winding down from recent state championship weekends. New state road champs include Mark Yeager (Team Neptune Cycles) of St. Petersburg and Mike McCollum (Team Jacksonville Racing) of Largo.

"After all my years of racing championship events all over the world, it's still fun to win and to see your hard work paying off," McCollum said. "My seasons spent coaching junior riders were still my most rewarding, but to win big races at this stage of the game - it gives me a lot of satisfaction."

Yeager and McCollum, who train together with other 40-plus riders, will be among the top area racers set to compete at DeLand Cup Stage Race June 24-25.

Last year, Team Gearlink racers dominated the top spots at DeLand Cup, and Yeager was third in the masters 35-plus category.

The DeLand Cup Stage Race will be on the course near DeLeon Springs. To volunteer or race, call Pablo Santa Cruz at (727) 741-7250; or Tim Molyneaux at: (407) 256-7971; or visit www.floridacycling.com.

TRILEWIS ADVENTURE RUN: Area adventure racers can check out Saturday's Fort DeSoto Team Adventure Races starting at 8 a.m. The competition and fun includes maps, navigation, trail running, hunting for clues and more.

For details, contact USA Triathlon Coach and event director Lewis Bennett, at: (727) 224-4767; or see the team Web site at: www.trilewis.com.

[Last modified June 20, 2006, 22:24:50]