For the week of September 4 - 10, 2002

French, 76, repeats victory in national triathlon

32-miler in Coeur d’Alene

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Ketchum’s Charley French, 76, has successfully defended his men’s 75-79 title in the USA Triathlon National Age Group Championships.

French won his class in Saturday’s 51.5-kilometer (31.9-mile) triathlon staged in Coeur d’Alene. There were 846 finishers on the Olympic distance course, which included a 1.5k swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run.

His final time was 3.08:11, good for 749th overall and first of three in his class. French’s splits were 38:03 swim, 1.23:07 bike and 1.03:55 run. He was one of only eight repeat age group champions.

Saturday’s overall winners were Pete Kain, 39, of Cupertino, Ca. in 1.59:28 and 2000 Olympic water polo team silver medalist Julie Swail, 29, of Irvine, Ca. in 2.11:14.

There were 55 Idaho athletes in the field and seven from Wood River. All the local participants cracked the top 30 in their age classes. They were:

Dave McBryant, 
53, 479th overall, 26th of 49 athletes in the men’s 50-54 age class in 2.35:37. Splits were 29:10, 1.14:33 and 49:30.

Matt Morell, 
42, 131st overall, 16th of 60 athletes in the men’s 40-44 age class in 2.13:19. Splits were 23:40, 1.05:54 and 41:18.

Kathy Morell, 
41, 474th overall, 24th of 47 athletes in the women’s 40-44 age class in 2.35:20. Splits were 31:12, 1.11:44 and 49:48.

Nicole Brown, 
38, 598th overall, 30th of 40 athletes in the women’s 35-39 age class in 2.46:20. Splits were 33:12, 1.18:36 and 50:47.

Keith Folske, 
29, of Boise, 100th overall, 21st of 67 athletes in the men’s 25-29 age class in 2.11:05. Splits were 26:00, 1.06:28 and 36:11.

Grant Folske, 
25, 125th overall, 25th of 67 athletes in the men’s 25-29 age class in 2.12:45. Splits were 29:55, 1.05:07 and 35:44.

 

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