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Cycling/Triathlon

German, Aussie earn world titles

By JESSICA MUNDIE
Published October 25, 2006

Last weekend, Florida's triathlon fans were treated to a double race weekend.

Held within hours of each other were the 2006 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and the Great Floridian Triathlon XVI at Lake Minneola's Waterfront Park in Clermont.

Normann Stadler of Germany won the World Championships in 8 hours, 11 minutes, 56 seconds. On the way to a second win, Stadler broke the 112-mile Ironman bike course record of 4:28:23 set by countryman Faris Al-Sultan in 2005 with his 4:25:25 split.

Australian Michellie Jones won the women's title, finishing in 9:18:31. Jones, a silver medalist in the inaugural triathlon at the 1996 Olympics in Sydney, enjoyed the win on her mother's birthday despite the fact she has insisted she would never race the Ironman distance swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles.

No stranger to triathlon fans in St. Petersburg, Jones won St. Anthony's Triathlon titles in 2002 and 2004 and won the Reebok Women's Triathlon.

"I backed it off over the last 5 miles," Jones said. "Everyone told me if you hold it together, you'll get it. I wanted to be a bit conservative.

Dozens from Florida joined the field of 1,700. Earlier in the week, reports of earthquake damage had some locals worried, but travel plans were delayed only slightly for most.

Marcos Alegre, 71, of Largo had the St. Pete Mad Dogs waving their club flags when he brought home another age group win. Alegre won his 70-74 division at the World Championship in 13:28:38.

TEAM OUTSPOKIN: As for local women who raced at the World Championship, Largo's Kathy Frailing (Team Outspokin) had the race of her life, placing 21st in the 35-39 division in 11:19:37. Frailing, who works full time as a physician, is now coached by triathlon legend Mark Allen. Also worth noting, 46-year-old Dean Cosgrove of Tarpon Springs finished his 19th World Championship in 13:44:06.

For results, see ironman.com/worldchampionship.

GREAT FLORIDIAN TRIATHLON WEEKEND: Netherlands triathlete Dirk Wijnalda used his Dutch cycling talent (fastest bike split of 5:09 on the hilly Clermont course) to win the GFT in 9:43:27. Wijnalda was the only competitor to finish in less than 10 hours.

Staci Studer of Virginia Beach, Va., won the women's division in 11:01:29. Studer had the fastest women's 26.2-mile run, 3:48:42. Studer won GFT in 2004 and placed second in 2005.

Results and splits for all events at Clermont's 2006 Great Floridian Triathlon Festival are at www.greatfloridian.com.

SUNCOAST TRIATHLON: Tampa's Joe Fernandez will play host to Saturday's Suncoast Triathlon at Fort DeSoto Park. Race distances are swim 0.33 miles, bike 10 miles and run 3.1 miles.

The Suncoast Triathlon race start time is 7:30 a.m. First-timers will compete in their own wave start and division. USAT rules will apply, and top-five division awards will be given at the postrace awards party.

Call Fernandez for details on registering and volunteering at (813) 874-7223 or check out www.suncoasttri.com.

Jessica Mundie can be reached at sptimescycling@yahoo.com

[Last modified October 25, 2006, 06:34:41]