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Multisport News from California, Nevada and Arizona
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Welcome
Committee Corner
Southwest Spotlight
WCCTC Collegiate Camp
Contact the Council
Chair: Elizabeth Farnan 

Vice Chair: Todd Larlee

Treasurer: Charles Johanson

Secretary:  Eric Davidson

RADC:  Sharon Osgood

ROC:  J. Ritterbeck

Admin: Rachel Sears Casanta 
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Welcome
Happy Holidays!

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the holidays.

For most of us, this is the time of year where the triathlon season is finished and we are making racing plans for the new season. Here on the USAT Southwest Regional Council we are hard at work to see that we have a great season with even more successes than last year.

In February the regional council will be meeting to develop our strategy and goals for the season and we want your input. Please feel free to send me an email if you have ideas for what we should do in 2014 to help you race better, faster and have more fun in this amazing sport.

Again, happy holidays and be awesome,


Communications Chair

SW Regional Council Treasurer

Committee Corner
The USA Triathlon Southwest Region Council has a very productive 2013. Below are just some of the recent projects and initiatives that the committees have worked on to serve you, the members of our region.
Women's Commission members welcomed Sister Madonna Buder at the Athleta Irongirl in  Las Vegas
Women's Commission

 

The USAT Southwest Region Women's Commission held its first event at the Athleta Irongirl Triathlon on October 26th in Las Vegas, NV. The Women's Commission offered an opportunity to meet and greet Sister Madonna Buder. Sister Madonna spoke to a group of 100+ women from all over the world to inspire, amuse and provide motivation and fellowship the day before the race. She was introduced by Sharon Osgood and Melissa Olivas (co-chairs of the newly formed USAT Southwest Women's Commission). Sharon gave a short explanation of what the USA Triathlon Southwest Region membership offers to each member and how they can become more involved with the women's commission.

 

Sister Madonna stayed on after her short presentation to sign copies of her book, The Grace to Race, and to speak with many of the participants. She participated in the sprint race on Saturday with over 600 women. Her energy and enthusiasm for our sport was very clear. 

 

The Women's Commission supports women in the sport of triathlon at all levels. Our mission statement is: to develop opportunities and programs that encourage women into multisport and support their journey and growth. It has been established to provide support for athletes, coaches, race directors and officials.


Outreach 

Council members attended 20 races during the year for membership rallies.  At the events, council members gave away USAT items such as hats, cinch bags, water bottles and pint glasses to athletes in the Southwest Region. We plan to be at key race venues in 2014 so look for our tent or banner and come by to say hello and pick up a gift.

Officials

  

Regional Officials Coordinator J. Ritterbeck extends his appreciation and gratitude for all of the hard work of the Southwest Region officials in 2013. He reports the following summary for the year:

  • officials were requested and assigned to 56 races 
  • 9 new clinics were held
  • 6 new officials were certified
  • 10 officials were promoted to cat 3
  • 38 officials were active in 2013 (working at least one race event)

Currently there are plans for six officials clinics to be held in 2014. California clinics will be held in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Barbara and the San Francisco Bay Area. Additional certification clinics are slated for Las Vegas, NV and Tempe, AZ. Stay tuned via social media for updates.

Southwest Spotlight
Jim Luft (M65-69) at USAT Duathlon National Championship
The USA Triathlon Southwest championship event season has come to a close. Thank you athletes, coaches, parents, race directors and event sponsors for a terrific season of racing. We tip our hats, visors and helmets to the athletes who put it together on race day to climb atop the podium.  

The final major championship event in the region was the USAT Duathlon National Championship in Oro Valley, Arizona. Congratulations to the top athletes from the Southwest Region. Below we highlight the duathletes who won their age groups earning the title of National Champion.
 
Standard-Distance National Championships
5k run, 35k bike, 5k run
 
 
M17-19: Alistair Eeckman (Berkeley, Calif.), 1:26:34 
M25-29: Eric Burnett (Pasadena, Calif.), 1:26:09
M45-49: Toby Freebourn (Tucson, Ariz.), 1:34:01
M80-84: Lyle Langlois (Phoenix, Ariz.), 3:22:23

F20-24: Chelsea Vancott (Oceanside, Calif.), 1:57:02  
F65-69: Karin Bivens (Tucson, Ariz.), 2:23:33
F75-79: Kay Martin (Phoenix, Ariz.), 3:15:14
 
Congratulations to Eric Burnett who also won the overall title for men in the standard distance national championship. 

  

Sprint-Distance National Championship
2.5k run,17.5k bike, 2.5k run
  

  

M15-19: Timothy Winslow (Elk Grove, Calif.), 45:27
F20-24: Jacque Povilaitis (Flagstaff, Ariz.), 54:35
M20-24: Dan Grimm (Flagstaff, Ariz.), 44:59

M35-39: Brian Duff (Los Angeles, Calif.), 46:11
M55-59: Tom Resh (Redlands, Calif.), 48:02
  

  

F15-19: Michelle Niebla (Nogales, Ariz.), 54:38
F25-29: Laurel Bale (Tucson, Ariz.), 59:53

F30-34: Courtney Robles-Wiseman (Corona, Calif.), 50:25 

F45-49: Janet Jarvits (Pasadena, Calif.), 57:04

F55-59: Patty Peoples-Resh (Redlands, Calif.), 51:19 

F75-79: Margaret Bomberg (Chico, Calif.), 1:47:36

 
Congratulations to overall winners Dan Grimm and Courtney Robles-Wiseman and to female Grand Masters Champion, Patty Peoples-Resh. A special mention to Patty and her husband Tom Resh who together became the first married couple to win duathlon national championship titles in the same division in the same year. Way to go.

  

Paraduathlon National Championship  

  

PC Open: Gerard Ah-Fook (Tucson, Ariz.), 55:59

2014 Southwest Region Championship Schedule
 
The USAT Southwest Region Council is currently finalizing the 2014 Championship Race Schedule. The race calendar will be posted on the website in early January.