Age Group Gold Medalists


America's Age Group Gold
A look at the nine US gold medallists from the ITU Triathlon World Championships

Men 25-29 Todd Wiley Todd Wiley just kept getting faster as he took on the largest amateur field at worlds. Exiting the water 25th out of 94 racers, Wiley clocked the fourth fastest bike and the second fastest run to finish in 2:04:06. His time was the third fastest overall age group performance for the day. Lukas Zgraggen, 30-34, 2:03:21, and Christof Hauser, 20-24, 2:03:38, were the only racers to cover the Lausanne course more quickly than Wiley. Todd Wiley picks up the pace en route to the youngest American win.

	Women 30-34 Karen Dehmel An elite-class swim (19:57), second fastest by an AG for the day, put Karen Dehmel out in front for the duration of her race. Once she exited the water, Dehmel blistered the hilly streets of Lausanne on her bike then fell less than six seconds shy of a sub-40 10k. She crossed the finish 2:46 ahead of second-place American Catherine Payson who out-biked and out-ran Dehmel but was never able to make up a three-minute swim deficit. Dehmel's time was just 1:01 short of the fastest amateur finish for the day. Karen Dehmel capped an elite-class swim with a solid bike and run in her never-look-back victory.

Men 35-39 Peter Kain Last year Peter Kain staved off a finish-line sprint by Australian Michael Anderson to become the 30-34 world champion by one second. If he hadn't won that race Kain would have been sitting in the States instead of winning his second consecutive gold. Kain failed to qualify for worlds at the USAT National Age Group Championships due to a controversial course violation and disqualification. Fortunately, worlds victors get an automatic in to the following year's championships. This year Kain earned his gold with a comparatively relaxed 0:38.8 margin over Swiss Reto Schawalder. Peter Kain closing in on his second consecutive gold.

	Women 45-49Jo Garuccio Jo Garuccio was not happy with her bronze medal finish at last year's worlds in Perth. Allergy induced asthma kept her sucking wind throughout the race with no prayer for a first place finish and hopes for a silver medal lost to New Zealander Dian Bell in the final kilometer of the run. At USAT Nationals in June, Garuccio saw her lead off the bike evaporate on the heels of eventual winner Karen McKeachie. Memories of those two races inspired the four-time world champion to crank through Lausanne's hills with the fastest bike split in her age group (1:18:45.5) and put enough padding between her and the field to earn her a fifth gold. Jo Garuccio enters the chute for her fifth worlds win.

Women 60-64Susan Bradley-Cox Susan Bradley-Cox posted a championship victory last year in Perth by bettering German Ingrid Menschig by almost 11 minutes. Menschig was also her closest competition this year and the gap narrowed--to nine and a half minutes. Bradley-Cox bettered the eight-racer field in every category (including transitions) except the run, where she was second to Menschig by a minute. Her strength is the swim. The sexagenarian's 2:54:57 would have placed her in the top seven of the 50-54 age group. Susan Bradley-Cox pedaling to a comfortable win..

	Women 65-69 Ruth Kazez Ruth Kazez has always raced in Madonna Buder's shadow, but this year's bike course through the hilly streets of old Lausanne worked to her advantage. Kazez climbed and descended through Lausanne 10 minutes quicker than Buder and also gained valuable time in T1. Even though Buder clocked a run that was nearly nine minutes faster than Kazez, the new champion still won her age group with eight minutes to spare. Ruth Kazez at the finish area turn around.

Men 70-74 Ken Nash Only one member of this year's seven-man 70-74 field attended world's in Perth, Vaughn Kimbrough from the US. But it was another American that threatened Ken Nash's gold medal. Robert Eazor was only 1:44 behind Nash after the swim and he posted bike and run times that made up over a minute. But it wasn't enough. Nash stayed out of reach and completed the race 57 seconds in front of Kimbrough. Ken Nash holding on to his lead through the run.

	Men 75-79Bill Schweizer He's been confused with Jim Ward, but Bill Schweizer has carved out his own niche in the age group triathlon world. The only racer in this year's 75-79 category, Schweizer faced a much more imposing competitor than most of the people at worlds--the clock of age. Although Schweizer's presence in Lausanne didn't necessarily show that senior racing makes that clock stand still, he did help demonstrate that it can be fun to keep pace with the ticking. Bill Schweizer in the finish area.

Women 75-79Joanita Reed Joanita Reed is doing for women what Jim Ward and Bill Schweizer have done for men, proving that life is the real competition in this world. Reed's overall time of 3:44:14 was faster than nine younger racers and her run topped three times that many. Reed's victory in the one-person field demonstrated an impressive drive for life. When is she going to stop racing? "When I'm 10-feet under." AG Joanita Reed competing with life.
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