USAT Nationals (Anderson qualifies for worlds), Crescent Moon Results

USAT NATIONALS

Jeremy Anderson (coach Pete, Chicago, Il) and Susan Johnson (coach Pete, Colorado) headed west this weekend for USAT Nationals at Hagg Lake in Oregon. Susan finished 44th in her age group and reports, although she felt fine, it wasn't a good race. Jeremy, coming off 7th place over all finishes at Life Time Fitness and Chicago Accenture was cautiously optimistic as he was coming off a bad bike accident and had some old leg injuries flare up recently. As we approached the race we wondered how he would transition going from the Midwest and relatively flat courses to a course with rolling hills on both the bike and run. Jeremy set a personal best Olympic distance time in going 2:05.13 (11th age group) and qualified for the world championships next year in Australia. CONGRATULATIONS JEREMY!!!

CRESCENT MOON:

In one of the last local sprint races of the season, Jeff Liedy, Kevin Stoddard and Coach Kathy competed at the Crescent Moon at Cherry Creek reservoir. Kevin, who is a sophomore in high school and swims on a senior nationals team (he swims two times a day and has little time to devote to running and bike) took 4th in the 0-19 age group. Jeff Liedy, in his first full year of racing, came home in 1:12.12 to set a sprint distance personal best and a 12th place age group finish. Coach Kathy took home the over all female masters crown and was the 6th place women overall.

On a side note, Coach Kathy and Jeff have been trash talking each other for the past few weeks. Wagers were placed on foot massages, dinner etc. Liedy claimed victory with a 1 second victory and graciously picked up the dinner tab last evening with Kathy claiming "The winner buys dinner". Jeff has bragging rights for the rest of the winter and Kathy was last heard mumbling about taking a wrong turn on the run course...starting in a later wave and the "wind must have picked up"......Liedy just grinned and took another sip of wine. It may be a long winter for Coach Kathy...

Congrats to all who raced this weekend. Clay is in Cancun for the 70.3 half but no results have been posted as of this writing. Clay reported in briefly on Monday morning. Heat index over 100 with 70% humidity!! He finished in 6:28 and was proud that he "stuck it out" as many others dropped. Nice work Major Taulman!!

Ironman Wisconsin/Fall Frenzy

Photographs above are of the swim start, Mike Alfino and Jon Gentine in front of the Capital building, Jon Gentine on the run, Michelle and Eric Plantenberg, the "CRAZY" Gentine fan club which kept me entertained all day long and Coach Pete's brother Mike, post Ironman Wisconsin finish. (click on the photos to enlarge)

Weekend Re-Cap:

This was my 3rd year in a row spectating the Wisconsin race. After completing the race in 2002 and 2003 I know this course and town better than any other on the Ironman circuit. The whole vibe around Madison and the surrounding communities is incredible. Each year I go out to the same spot on the course and cheer. This year I was joined by Jon Gentine's extended family and friends. To say a party was going on out on the course may not give it justice. Thank you to all of you for making my trip even more special..

Now about the race.... Perfect weather, perfect conditions and tremendous support. Jon lead the MHM team out of the water with a 1:03 and Eric followed in 1:07, Mike broke 1:30 and even secured a spot on the post race DVD coming up the helix.
Eveyone endured the challenging bike course where the winds picked up a little but the temperatures were ideal.

Eric lead everone home with a 22 minute personal best and Jon followed with his first Ironman finish. My brother finished with 44 minutes to spare before midnight and thus became the 4th Alfino family memeber to compelete an Ironman (besides Kathy and myself, Cousin Tony in San Diego has completed two)

Look for more pictures from the event to follow in the next few days.

Fall Frenzy:

Clay Taulman and Kelli Binzer represented MHM at the fall frenzy. Kelli, who just gave birth to her first child earlier in the year took 6th place over all amongst the women AND WON HER AGE GROUP!!!! Clay set a 9 minute personal best and took 7th in his age group!!!


Julia Rossi, one of MHM newest athletes who is coached by Allen Gilchrest took first place overall at a sprint race in Cleveland last weekend. Congratulations Julia!!!!

This weekend is the Harvest Moon Aqua Bike and Half Ironman. A number of MHM athletes will be participating and I plan to be at the venue later in the morning with the MHM tent. Good luck to everyone!!

Ironman Kentucky

Photographs: A lone swimmer in the Ohio river at Ironman Kentucky and Scott Binzer on the bike course.

Ironman Kentucky: A great weekend of racing in Louisville for Mile High multisport athletes Scott Binzer, Kim Katz and John McGrath. Despite temperatures in the 90's, high humidity and wind both Scott and Kim set personal bests and John, despite a broken spoke completed his first race. All three athletes have families and careers and their accomplishments were nothing short of spectacular. Congratulations to all three of you!!

All results are posted on the MHM web page in the results section.