Brazilian wins Clermont GFT

By JESSICA MUNDIE

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 3, 2000

Renato Dantas De Lucas, 26, of Brazil won Clermont's Great Floridian Triathlon Oct. 21 in eight hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds.

The GFT was designated the 2000 USA Triathlon national championship for the Ironman distance, which is a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

Kathleen Kinz-Smith, 38, of Southborough, Mass., captured the overall women's title in 10:44:53.

Brooksville cyclist and triathlete Laura DeWitt, 39, cracked the top 10 in 11:24:18 -- good enough for a ninth-place trophy. Melissa Dipple, formerly a St. Pete Masters team swimmer who now lives in Coconut Grove, won the women's masters division in 11:46:16.

Dipple, 40, spent most of last summer training and attending art school in the south of France.

The bay area scored a victory when Dave Rowland, a dentist from North Redington Beach, won the men's 35-39 division in 10:05:41.

BONNESS ALL GUTS, TALENT: Joe Bonness of Naples stood on last month's Ironman Triathlon World Championship podium in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with third-place winnings after a 9:56:03 performance in the 45-49 division.

Bonness, 45, a member of the St. Pete Mad Dogs triathlon club, amazed the multisports world a week later, capturing seventh overall in the Great Floridian Triathlon with a time of 9:48:09.

GFT spectators said Bonness "rocked on the bike" with a 4:57 split -- the second fastest of the day.

The ever-smiling Bonness -- whose wife, Sue, travels to American Kennel Club dog shows when not following her husband -- will be featured on ESPN next week.

Bonness plans to three-peat for top masters awards Saturday in the Isuzu Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach.

FUTURE CHAMP? Mountain bike racer Kirsten Fee, 10, of Wesley Chapel is at the top of the Pontiac Aztek Florida State Mountain Bike Championship Series points for kids, but that is not all.

Fee, riding her small Marin front suspension machine, continues to dominate the adult beginner women's class.

"Kirsten is fearless, and she trains so hard," said Mike Ward, who owns Flatland Mountain Bikes in Tampa.

"She's a good student and a nice girl. She is light, but strong, and she passes all the girls in every race," he said.

Ward sponsors and coaches Fee, who has been mountain bike racing since she was 3.

MOUNTAIN BIKE POINTS: Round No. 4 at Belleview last week produced some changes in state mountain bike series points.

The following bay area team off-road racers are in the hunt for championship points.

Steve Zdawczynski, known as "Steve Z", and Justin Graedel of Carrollwood Bicycles; R.J. White and Mike Nuccio, University Bicycle Center; Shelly Allen and Linda Murphy, Trek's Southeast Factory Team; Ted Potyka, Team Trail Sports; Susie Marston, Specialized/Chainwheel Drive; Mike Lenas, Team Action Wheelsports; Brett Thompson, Team Outspokin'; and Joshua Wincett and Fee, Marin/Flatlands Mountain Bike Team.

Round 5 in the Pontiac Aztek Florida State Mountain Bike Series is scheduled for Sunday in Gainesville.

CACTUS CUP: Outdoor Life Network film crews will be out in full force Nov. 18-19 for the mountain bike races at Oleta River State Park in North Miami.

Cactus Cup riders will compete in not only the regular cross-country type of events in each category, but also dirt criteriums, which provide spectacular photo opportunities -- particularly after heavy rains on the course.

For further information, including registration, call Gone Riding, (352) 873-9279, or check out www.goneriding.com.

LIFE AFTER HOCKEY: Former professional athlete Andy Stenberg of Tampa says he is "just playing" at age-group triathlon competition.

But Stenberg's overall victory in last month's Battle Of The Bridges Triathlon in Ormond Beach got the attention of his training partners and competitors.

It perhaps seemed like payback for his misfortune of being directed off course while heading for a victory in the Tarpon Springs Triathlon at Fred Howard Park last September.

"I haven't even done St. Anthony's Triathlon yet," Stenberg said after being asked about next season's race lineup.

"I would like to do St. Anthony's, if family and work schedules allow it," he said. "We'll see if I can race a bit more in 2001 because I'm just beginning at this."

TOUR DE WOLFE: The following mountain bike racers scored big in Memphis, Tenn: Team BBC's Kurt Fritz of Land O' Lakes; Ryan Trebon, a senior expert rider from Tampa; and Trek's Lind Murphy.

COMING UP: For bicycle tourists, the non-racing bunch who enjoys the sport for pleasure and fitness, the Gulf Coast Cycle Fest will be Sunday in Sarasota.

Rides will be 15-, 31-, 62- and 100-mile routes. Food, massage, t-shirts and tech support will be provided.

For information, call Jim Perry, (941) 358-0297, or e-mail him at jperry@home.com.

FAT TIRE FESTIVAL: Suwannee Bicycle Association presents Florida's largest fat-tire festival, which is Nov. 10-12 in White Springs.

Included will be meals, canoe and kayak trips, camping, parties, slide shows and entertainment.

For information, call (813) 855-7265, or e-mail beckersa@yahoo.com.

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