With the all of the qualification races complete, the Team USA roster for the 2007 ITU Short Course Duathlon Worlds has been finalized.
The event is set for May 19-20 in Gyor, Hungary, with races slated for elites, juniors, U23s, and age groupers. The age group, elite and U23 races will be on a 10k run, 40k bike, 5k run course, while the juniors will compete on a 5k run, 20k bike, 2.5k run course.
Currently 110 age group athletes are set to compete for the U.S., with another 13 elite athletes also on the start list. The team will look to increase their podium finishes from 2006 when 23 medals were earned, including 22 at the age group level.
For the age groupers, just eight medalists return from 2006 Worlds in Cornerbrook, Canada. Leading the charge for the women will be Suzanne Huelster (Riverton, N.J.), who finished second overall and won gold in the 30-34 age group. The only other female gold medalist from 2006 is Diane Proud (Irving, Texas), who won the title in the 55-59 category. Anne Mitchell (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.) is back to compete in the 50-54 age group after earning a silver in 2006 and grabbing a world title in 2005. Kerri Robbins (Davidsonville, Md.) won silver in 2006 in the 35- 39 age group and Barb Morgan (Tioga, Pa.) grabbed bronze in 60- 64.
On the men’s side, Sean Ion (Shippensville, Pa.) will look to challenge for the overall gold after finishing sixth in 2006 and earning silver in the 25-29 age group. Edwin Bixenstine (Kent, Ohio) will try to add to his medal collection after a silver in 2005 and gold last year. He will be competing in the 80-84 group this year. Last year’s silver medalist in the 50-54 category, Warren Elvers, Jr. (Getzville, N.Y.), returns and is looking for gold, while 2005 silver medalist Steve Pyle (Riverside, Conn.) will try for another podium in his final year in the 45-49 age group.
Elite Team Roster
Elites
Kevin Danahy (Rehoboth, Del.), 2003 Duathlon National Champion, 2006 National Runner-up
Derek Kite (Colorado Springs, Colo., photo), 4th at 2006 USAT Duathlon National Championship; 11th at Worlds
Mike Sharkey (Lakewood, Colo.), 2006 Midwest Regional Duathlon Champion; 36th at European Champs
Tyler Stanfield (Birmingham, Ala.), 6th at 2006 USAT Duathlon National Championship; 28th at Worlds
Anne Preisig (Falmouth, Mass.), 10th at 2006 Worlds
Junior Elites
Jared Bonecutter (Shelby, Ohio), #2 in USAT 16-17 age group duathlon rankings in 2006
Andrew Edick (Bonney Lake, Wash.), 18th at 2005 Duathlon Worlds
Ross Kimball (Smithfield, N.C.), 16:35 5k PR
Anthony Phillips (Sun Prairie, Wis.), #38 in USAT ITU-style Junior Elite Triathlon rankings in 2006
Sam Sutherland (The Woodlands, Texas), 16-19 LC Du National Champion in 2006
David Williams (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), 3rd in 18-19 age group at 2006 Worlds
Yasmine White (Arcata, Calif.), 2005 US National Champion; 4th at Worlds in 2006
U23
Ryan Giuliano (Schaumburg, Ill.), 2006 USAT U23 National Champion; 11th at 2006 U23 Worlds