For the week of June 12 - 18, 2002

Spudman Triathlon returns Saturday

17th annual event in Boise

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Triathletes will return to Boise Saturday, June 15 for the 17th annual Spudman Triathlon, a 26-mile event that starts at 9 a.m. for individuals and 9:30 a.m. for team members.

Sponsoring the Spudman is the Boise Family YMCA and PowerBar. The course features a 1.5-kilometer swim at Lucky Peak Reservoir, a 20-mile bike ride and 5-mile run.

After the swim finishes at Spring Shores Marina, the bike course will travel along S.H. 21 toward Boise and end in the Albertson’s parking lot on ParkCenter Blvd. The run course will wind along the Boise Greenbelt and finish back at ParkCenter.

Last year’s individual winners in a field of 145 were Tom Liby, 30, of Boise in 1.40:18 and Rebecca Taylor, 26, of Boise in 2.00:43.

Among the early registered triathletes this year are Matt Brinker, Grant Folske and Lisa Chang, all of Ketchum.

Packet pick-up is Friday, June 14 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Boise Family YMCA, downtown Boise. The pre-race meeting is Saturday from 8:45-9 a.m. at the race start.

For more information visit spudman.runnerslog.com. Online registration is accepted through spondoro.com. The day-of-race entry fees are $40 individuals and $70 teams.

Saturday’s Spudman is a qualifying event for the 2002 U.S. National Triathlon Age Group Championships set for Aug. 31 in Coeur d’Alene. That 32-mile race later this summer includes a 0.9-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike ride and 6.2-mile run.

The top 25% of each individual age group at Saturday’s Spudman will qualify for the national championships in Coeur d’Alene.

Age groups are 15-and-under, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70-and-up.

 

Athlete dies at Ironman Utah

More than 1,400 athletes competed in Saturday’s inaugural $50,000 Ironman Utah triathlon in Provo—but one didn’t make it.

John Boland, 55, of Redondo Beach, Ca. was pulled from the water of the swim portion at Utah Lake and later declared dead at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. An autopsy was being performed to determine cause of death.

Extreme wind conditions forced the cancellation of the swim portion shortly after the athletes had taken to the water.

A shortened duathlon was held instead, with a 65-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run. Boise’s Jenny Tobin (4.40:04) won the women’s race.

 

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