The 2002 season provided us with some brutal heat and our off- season training at the end of 2002 and beginning of 2003 has tested us with cold, snow, and ice like we haven't seen in a number of years. Some might have wanted to hunker down and try to ride out the bad weather and strive for superior levels of fitness just before the season. We hope most of you just moved indoors and used indoor treadmills and trainers or toughed out some of the bad days. Whichever, the season begins soon enough, so be ready. Those of you who may want a little help to be ready might consider attending the...

Washington, DC Triathlon Clinic

Well, no, it's not actually in Washington, but it is a full-day (plus) clinic that runs from 8 am to 8 pm at George Mason University's Freedom Center on Saturday, March 29. The workshop costs $250 or $300 depending on whether you are a current client of the coaches. Triathletes will actually be active participants as the coaches will study and work with them to improve their performance in the component disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. Ken Mierke, the successful coach and triathlete featured here several times, is coordinating presentations by a variety of people renowned on the triathlon scene including coach and author Joe Friel and formerly ranked professional triathlete Wes Hobson. Olympian Ryan Bolton is also expected to be there. Check out the Web site: www.DCTriClinic.com.

Rankings, Awards and All-Americans

USA Triathlon (USAT) has compiled their rankings for 2002. In addition, Inside Triathlon (IT) has named their All-Americans. Area athletes appear on both lists. In triathlon, locally, Virginians dominated the IT list. Andrea Dvorak (22) of McLean, VA earned both IT and USAT All-American status with her fourth- place, 20-24 age-group, USAT ranking. In the next (25-29) age group, two Virginians shared honors as Kirsten Black-Ward (28) of Arlington and Margaret Shapiro (26, previously featured in this column and profiled in WRR) earned All-American honors from both USAT and IT. The two were ranked second and fifth, respectively, by USAT. Perennial All-American Marge Stahl (72) of Annandale also earned both IT (in both duathlon and triathlon) and USAT (in duathlon) All-American honors. Marge was ranked third by USAT in duathlon.

Among the men, Annapolis's Timothy O'Donnell (22), was the third- ranked under-23 triathlete and garnered All-American laurels from both IT and USAT. In the 25-29 age group, two area IT and USAT All-Americans shared the top two USAT rankings, but did not earn the top spot for IT. Peter Traylor of Blacksburg, VA and Otho Keller of Timonium, MD (both 25) went one-two, respectively, in the USAT rankings but both lost the top IT honors to Alvaro Martinez of Mexico. Darren Hertell (28) of Richmond, ranked 13th by USAT, also appeared on both groups' All- American lists. Glen Arm, MD's David McNeely, in his last year in the 55-59 age-group, ranked 17th on the USAT rolls and continued, yet again, with USAT and IT All-American accolades.

In duathlon, Tom Jeffrey of Charlottesville, VA won top All- American honors in the IT 25-29 age group. However, he apparently was not credited with enough USAT duathlons to be ranked in their database. Similarly, Arlington's Jim Holt, finishing out his stint in the 30-34 age group, was an IT All- American, but did not appear in USAT's duathlon rankings. Veteran Craig Lowry of Harrisonburg, VA, in a new age group at 35, earned an eighth-place USAT ranking and Honorable Mention status, but was also named an IT All-American.

Among the women, Laytonsville, MD's Jan Tripp (49) of Du2R Multisport (see below) was the fifth-ranked woman in her USAT age group and was featured as an IT All-American. Anne Viviani (53) of Arlington was another repeat IT All-American and a USAT Honorable Mention.

Du2R Multisport, a small (13-member) local duathlon racing club, placed nine of its 13 members in the top eight ranks in their age group and had five USAT All-Americans or Honorable Mentions. Led by the Ellicott City, MD father-son team of Adam (19, ranked first and an All-American) and Don (51, ranked fifth, Honorable Mention), the team placed three top-eight males in the 50-54 age group. Joining the Forgiones were All-Americans Jeff Timm (50) of Bethlehem, PA and Trey Cassidy (34) also of Ellicott City (both ranked third in their age groups). Tara Smith (34) of Olney ranked second in her age group and was an Honorable Mention.

Locally, other USAT All-Americans included Kensington's Christy Underdonk (34) and Julie Caprio (42) of Columbia among the Maryland women triathletes, 18th and 26th, respectively, in their age groups. Two duos of males from Sterling and Reston,VA were also USAT All-Americans. Consistent honoree David Cascio (40) of Sterling ranked 26th. His townsman, David Glover (33), was 20th with a win this year at the Duke Blue Devil Iron Triathlon. That event raised money for cancer research. Glover had recovered from a sarcoma in the groin in 1995. Reston's Michael Orton was ranked first among the 18-19 year-olds. Fellow Restonite Stephen Smith (33) placed 38th in a very tough age group. Kensington's Steven Duplinsky (15) ranked third in his age group. Annapolitans Bill Kvetkas (41) and William Uffman (22) had USAT rankings of 9th and 20th, respectively while Robert Williams (60) of nearby Severna Park was eighth. In all, the metro area and Virginia accounted for about one percent of the All-Americans named by USAT.

OTHER HONORS

USAT also named its Triathletes and Duathletes of the year. The DC area and its neighbors again did well. Greg Watson of Newark, DE again won the Elite Male Duathlete of the Year on the strength of six wins in a row that included the national championship. He was 15th at the World Duathlon Championships. Tim Kitching, an Aussie transplanted to Baltimore, was named Rookie Elite Triathlete of the year. He finished in second place at the elite national championship race in New York. Also among the elites, Desiree Ficker of Potomac and Marjan Huizing of Gaithersburg were both Honorable Mention Elite Duathletes of the Year. Huizing was the Montgomery County Road Runners Club Woman Runner of the Year for 2002.

Among the age-groupers mentioned above, Margaret Shapiro and Otho Keller were both Honorable Mention Overall Age-Group Triathletes of the Year while Mike Orton was an Honorable Mention among Juniors. Tom Jeffrey was an Honorable Mention Overall Age-Group Duathlete of the Year. Congratulations to all for a great year!