Name a Wetsuit, Win a Wetsuit

(From the MetroSportsNY.com newsletter)
What's in a name? It could be a new wetsuit, for you.

Iron Girl, a maker of women's specific endurance-sport apparel, has a new wetsuit coming out. Pick a great name for the product, and you could soon be wearing it, for free. Iron Girl's products typically have a woman's name (the Amy Tri Suit, Felicia Tri Shorts), but they specifically don\'t want this new wetsuit to carry a woman's name.

Be creative, and send your entries to hk@iron-girl.com. Or check out the website at www.iron-girl.com.

Only 100 general entry spots remain for Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene; 150 spots available via lottery for Subaru Ironman Canada

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.-Only 100 general entry spots remain for the 2004 Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene triathlon being held on Sunday, June 27, 2004. Any athletes who are interested in competing are urged to sign up immediately to avoid being closed out.

For more information, or to register, log onto www.ironmancda.com.

Athletes interested in competing at the 2004 Subaru Ironman Canada triathlon can sign up for the 2004 Subaru Ironman Canada lottery. One hundred and fifty general entry spots are still available for the prestigious Penticton event, which will take place for the 22nd time in 2004. The cost to register for the lottery is US $20. Lottery registration will close at midnight on Sept. 18, and selections will be posted on Sept. 20. All lottery registrants will receive an e-mail whether or not they receive a spot. The lottery registration fee is non-refundable; however, if you receive a spot, it will be taken off your entry fee for 2004. Entry fees for 2004 are $ 400.00 (US.) or $560.00 (Canadian).

To register for the IM Canada lottery, log onto www.ironman.ca

Special Edition Lance Armstrong "Madone"
Just 500 will be produced

Four years ago, after Lance won his first Tour de France, TREK produced a limited-edition version of the bike he raced to victory. Limited to just 1,999, each came with a special paint job and certificate of authenticity.

On August 21, 2003, TREK bicycles unveiled something even more special... a commemorative limited edition (just 500) version of the soon-to-be-released Madone bicycle that Lance used in his record-tying 5th straight Tour de France Victory!

Not only is there a special bicycle in this package, but you also get a signed and numbered Lithographic print (signed by both the artist and Lance!), as well as a commemorative jersey.

The bike is a special Madone model, a new-for-2004 aerodynamically-enhanced version of the OCLV frame that was first seen at the 2003 Tour de France.

The bikes will be advertised at $5999 (Chain Reaction will be taking all pre-orders for $5499).

RECENT RACE RESULTS

Aug 23-24
• Schiff XTerra MTB Triathlon
• Lighter Than Air Duathlon

Aug 16-17
• VYTRA-TOBAY Triathlon:
Overall-Individual - Teams - Clydesdales - Awards - Age Groups - Males - Females
• West Point Triathlon
• Timberman 1/2 Iron & Sprint Triathlon
• NYTC Central Park Triathlon

The Hamlin Beach, NY and Greater Hartford (CT) Triathlons were not held.

The MetroTri Calendar offers a complete list of regional events for the year.

IN MEMORIAM: Jeffrey Wortman

This past Saturday, during the Great Hudson River Swim, Jeffrey Wortman suffered a massive heartache. Although Jeffrey received immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at St. Vincent Hospital. He was 58 years old.

Jeffrey was a member of Chelsea Piers masters’ swim team. After suffering his first heart attack a few years ago, he became an avid swimmer. Jeffrey recently assisted his Chelsea Piers team to win the Commissioner's Trophy. Jeffrey personally qualified for USMS Nationals in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke.

Jeffrey was a very good man and a friend to all of us in the swimming community. Jeffrey was a committed volunteer at events sponsored by NYC2012, and at swim races sponsored by the Manhattan Island Foundation. If you participated in an open water swim race over the past few years, you probably encountered Jeffrey. He was the selfless volunteer writing your number on your arm, handing out food and/or transporting your bag from start to finish. He was always courteous, and quietly enjoyed helping swimmers make the most of their experience.

Several friends made heroic efforts to revive Jeffrey. Bonnie and Marcela were the kayakers who stayed with Jeffrey as he veered off course in the swim. When he stopped swimming, they immediately flipped him over and kept his head and shoulders out of the water, signaling for help. Earl Sandvik was the boat captain of “My Jo”. Earl, his crew and a Parks Department lifeguard immediately brought Jeffrey on board and administered CPR. Rescue workers on the New York Fire Department boat rapidly provided back-up assistance. We owe special thanks to Great Hudson swimmer, Dr. Peter Shearer, an emergency room physician. After he emerged from his swim, Peter ran to join the team working to revive Jeffrey at Chelsea Piers.

Jeffrey’s family will have a private “family only” service in the next few days. They hope to have a memorial service in 3 to 4 weeks, but have made no plans as of yet. Additionally, the Manhattan Island Foundation will honor Jeffrey at the Little Red Lighthouse swim on September 20, bringing together Jeffrey’s family, those who worked to save him, and his fellow swimmers.

Subaru Ironman Canada Lottery Information

PENTICTON,B.C.-Should any spots remain following on site registration, they will be available via the Subaru Ironman Canada lottery. Athletes may register for the lottery on Active.com beginning Tuesday, Aug. 26.

There are no guarantees that any spots will remain for the lottery. The cost to register for the lottery is US $20. Lottery registration will close at midnight on Sept. 18, and selections will be posted on Sept. 20. All lottery registrants will receive an e-mail whether or not they receive a spot. The lottery registration fee is non-refundable; however, if you receive a spot, it will be taken off your entry fee for 2004. Entry fees for 2004 are $ 400.00 (US.) or $560.00 (Canadian).

Athletes who do not get in via general on site entry or through the lottery and is still interested in participating in Subaru Ironman Canada 2004, can sign up through the Ironman Community Fund. There are a total of 100 spots available and will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis. (These spots are $1000 US, which is $400 for the entry fee and $600 that goes to the Community Fund.) The Ironman Community Fund helps local children’s groups, sports teams and other non-profit organizations.

For more information, please contact the Athlete Service Center at ironmanna@aol.com. For those athletes not interested in signing up under the Ironman Community Fund, there are several races held throughout the year that have qualifying spots for Subaru Ironman Canada 2004. For more information on which races have spots, dates and locations, visit www.ironmannorthamerica.com and click on the ‘Qualifiers’ link

Local Metro Finishers at Ironman Canada

Despite changes to the swim and run courses due to a local forest fire (helicopters were dumping water on the fire during the race), Ironman Canada was a magnificent Sunday for many local finishers:

Place Finish Name City, State Swim Bike Run
71 09:58:13, TERRY KERRIGAN, NEW YORK, NY, 53:47, 5:25:34, 3:31:02
77 09:59:55, TIMOTHY DAVELER LONG BRANCH, NJ, 59:34, 5:25:07, 3:30:35
339 10:54:54, AMY RAPPAPORT GLADSTONE, NJ, 1:08:57, 6:03:33, 3:35:35
364 10:58:04, GEOFF SCHROEDER WALL, NJ, 1:14:35, 5:47:41, 3:50:48
432 11:10:31, WILLIAM LUNN MYSTIC, CT, 59:59, 5:46:54, 4:08:36
433 11:10:37, THIERRY CARRIERE WEST HARTFOR, CT, 1:00:45, 5:47:26, 4:16:13
601 11:35:13, BARRY MYRVOLD NEW YORK, NY, 1:05:31, 6:05:54, 4:12:53
618 11:38:08, CHUCK TOTERO RYE, NY, 1:11:11, 5:39:34, 4:37:19
769 11:55:43, JUSTIN HOLMES WANTAGH, NY, 1:12:21, 5:51:31, 4:42:37
825 12:04:22, VIRGINIA SOMMA-GUIDO NEW YORK, NY, 57:24, 6:32:31, 4:25:00
895 12:14:17, SILKE WUNDERWALD STONINGTON, CT, 1:02:13, 6:10:03, 4:52:55
901 12:14:41, JASON RABINOWITZ NEW YORK, NY, 1:19:26, 6:08:39, 4:34:06
1021 12:33:39, EDWIN HALE SPRING LAKE, NJ, 1:12:41, 6:03:07, 5:05:02
1051 12:38:13, ANDREW FRIED WEST ORANGE, NJ, 1:10:00, 6:01:31, 5:14:34
1113 12:45:15, JIM RILEY WYCKOFF, NJ, 1:10:45, 6:28:32, 4:55:11
1116 12:45:35, EVA CHIN GROTON, CT, 1:07:53, 7:04:31, 4:20:54
1326 13:22:44, DANIEL BLAUSEY NEW YORK, NY, 1:32:09, 6:50:56, 4:46:03
1366 13:30:48, BERTRAND DOR MAHWAH, NJ, 1:13:22, , 5:17:39
1444 13:44:55, MARY NATHAN FAR ROCKAWAY, NY, 1:28:25, 7:01:13, 5:04:20
1700 15:03:06, DENIS ODONNELL DARIEN, CT, 1:47:02, 7:12:44, 5:44:48
1801 15:55:55, GERRY VALENTINE NEW YORK, NY, 1:23:07, 7:19:39, 6:56:26
1856 16:36:55, KIRSTEN SALLEY RIDGEFIELD, CT, 1:37:25, 8:29:14, 6:11:39

Complete results are at www.Ironman.ca or here for a text file

LOBSTERFEST REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE

You can sign up for the 2003 Jordan's Lobsterfest 5k at Active.com

Details: Saturday, September 13, 2003, 4 PM at Riverside Blvd./Boardwalk in Long Beach, NY

A 5k fun-run on the historic Long Beach Boardwalk, with a free 1lb. lobster dinner, full-sized beach towel (towel limited to first 200 registrants), and DJ on the beach! Tons of raffle prizes. In 2003 we will offer the choice of Lobster or Shrimp for the kids. Parking at Riverside Blvd. Race starting line at Lincoln Blvd. and the Boardwalk. Polar, Powerbar, Puma, Red Bull and others will be there!
Your lobster is your "edible trophy."

Rain or shine.

JONES BEACH TRIATHLON REGISTRATION AVAILABLE AT LIN-MARK.COM

Registration for the Jones Beach Triathlon and Tri-Relay is now available at Lin-Mark, the race timer's website

GREATER HARTFORD TRIATHLON CANCELLED

The 19th edition of the GHT wil not be held this year. Active.com lists the event as cancelled, possibly due the lack of insurance (See "CT Race Director Loses Sanctioning Privileges " below).

No information about the cancellation is provided at the annoyingly "flash" content-filled CATS website (though it's better than it used to be).

REMAINING EVENTS IN THE 2003 NYC SWIM SERIES

• August 23rd The Great Hudson River Swim
A 2.8 Mile Swim from the 79th St. Boat Basin to Pier 62 at 23rd Street
in Hudson River Park.

• September 20, Little Red Lighthouse Swim
A 7.8 mile swim from Pier 62 at 23rd Street in Hudson River Park to
the Little Red Lighthouse at the George Washington Bridge.

Info and entry at www.NYCSwim.org

BALANCE BAR GRANTS:

Is there an activity you are passionate about but lack the
resources to take it to the next level?

Then apply for a BALANCE BAR® Grant. BALANCE BAR® Grants of
$500 to $10,000 are awarded to amateur athletes (both
individuals and teams) who pursue sports or activities that
integrate all aspects of the mind and body. To find out more
about the program and how to apply, visit www.balance.com.

The next application deadline is September 15th, 2003.
Send in your application today!

Eight Races in Eight Weeks

A report from Paul Martin

I’ll start with yesterday. Boulder Peak Triathlon – an Olympic distance race with an extra 2k on the bike (1.5k swim, 42k bike, 10k run). It’s great to do a race right in your own backyard: sleep in your own bed, eat your own breakfast (as opposed to eating someone else’s breakfast???), and spank one of your roommates who also drove you to the race. It’s too bad, really, Randy’s a nice guy. Too bad he’s so much slower than me. The other roommate, and fixer of my bikes, Ivy Koger (see ivyfixesbikes.com), spanked us both. This was my 4th go at this particular race and, as with all the previous three, I beat my prior time. Not training much is working out really well this year. The swim was OK, the bike was solid and the run was, relatively speaking, great: 44 min. I finished in 2:23:42 and really couldn’t have gone any faster. It’s called “leaving it all out there.” On that note, thanks to all of you who kicked in for the Multiple Sclerosis fund-raising aspect of this race. My goal of $500 was smashed and we gave the good people at MS over $1800! You guys ROCK!

This race also has free beer. Then we had a little party back at the house.

And now for one of my all-time favorite stories: So I’m driving down Moorehead St. here in Boulder, notorious for speeding tickets – got one there a couple years ago – on my way to register for the race. I’m cognizant of such and I’m looking around for the bad/good guys and at my speedometer and in my rearview and, sure enough, there they are, right behind me. I monitor the speed, think about my registration and insurance for a moment, acknowledge that I’m all paid up, thinking about what their gonna pull me over for – they always pull me over. (A conservative estimate on lifetime pullovers: ~70.) I get to the end of the street, no lights, no sirens, phew. A couple of turns later and “What the hell? They’re still behind me.” Then, like the geyser in Yellowstone, colorful lights flash behind me. (The reference to the geyser was “reliable” not “colorful.”)

Turns out I didn’t used my blinker to make that right at the end of Moorehead. The right in the special lane with a semi-curve median on the left-hand side that, in my humble opinion, signifies the fact you’re about to turn right, it’s really the only option. Really. So he goes to the cruiser to ascertain my legal status in the community while his partner sticks her elbow in my passenger door and says, “Cool leg.” I say, “Not as cool as my other leg, but thanks.” We go through some idle chit-chat and she says, “Sounds like you made the most of it.” I say, “Even wrote a book about exactly that.”

He returns from the car, says that I’m a good person and doesn’t give me a ticket. She asks me if she can buy a book and if I’ll personalize it to her, made out to “A-I-M-E-E.” I said, “Sure. Nothing like getting pulled over and turning a profit!” Then they wished me luck in my race.

Things didn’t go quite so well for me the weekend before at the PanAm Disabled Cycling Championships in Brooklyn/Bronx. I didn’t take this race too seriously, there were little-to-no consequences in this race other than finishing and ensuring our team certain Paralympic points for Athens next year. I actually flew in the night before from Seattle where I was doing a couple of book signings and some TV in Portland.

The road race was Fri, Aug 1. It was a 49k race - nine laps of a nine-kilometer course. I attack near the end of the first lap without being all the warmed up, then I pull out to let someone else pull for a spell. A Canadian winger obliged and moments later, as we’re approaching the base of the only real hill on the course, and he’s got about a half a bike on me, we come upon a right turn-off that, for God knows what reason, he thinks he has to take and in doing so forces me off the course. The other options were to crash into him or the sign that says “go straight” or the curb. I do a not-as-quick-as-I-should-have 360 on that off-chute and start chasing them up the hill. Well, I had just finished an attack, which I probably shouldn’t have since I wasn’t warmed up yet, and then I had to chase a peloton up a hill. Well that didn’t work and I spent three or four laps at or above threshold… and I blew up. Never caught ‘em. Spent the next six laps riding easy for the sake of the finishing points. And to save myself for the time trial the next day in The Bronx.

That sucked too. Got beat by a few people who’ve never beat me before. ‘Nuff said.

Just after this weekend of racing I flew back to the Left Coast for more book signings and some more TV. I know, seems like a pretty silly itinerary. Short story is I was supposed to do the AmeriCana Relay on Aug 1 and 2 (a 212-mile, 12-person run relay from Nelson, British Columbia to Spokane, Washington), but six of my teammates dropped out a couple of weeks before the race, which gave me an opportunity to race at the US Elite Team obligation in NYC. I was originally exempted since I’d already committed to the relay team and had lots of press and signings planned around it.

So I flew to San Francisco and drove down to Santa Cruz for a signing at an independent book strore called the Book Café in Capitola. Sold some books, had a good crowd, met a recent amputee named Britta who seemed happy to know hear my story, and just might have scored a speaking gig at a local high school. The next day I ran on the beach before I rode my bike along the Pacific Coast Highway into some cool country 25 miles north of Santa Cruz. Made my way up to Oakland that night for a signing at Barnes & Noble – three people showed up, sold three books. By the numbers, my worst signing to date, by the experience, no worse than any other. Got to sit and rap with very cool people and truly enjoyed myself.

Stayed with a friend in Berkeley and got up early to do the morning news in downtown San Fran. KRON, Ch 4. Good questions, but the photo they put on the screen of a BK cyclist wasn’t me. Oh well, who knew? So I was free ‘til 7pm that night: had a speaking gig at Stanford University for a summer internship program called University of Dreams. The students are all business and finance majors interning at corporations in the city and they bring in non-money people to show them a little something outside of capitalism. Go figure, I’m a “non-money” guy. So in the meantime I cruise up into Marin County just the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. I get keen on walking along a beach for a spell and pull up to Muir Beach. I’ve got sandals in hand, walking along the edge of the water, cool brine splashing on me feet/foot, sun shining on me, feeling very pleasant. Then I walk through some rock croppings and find myself in none other that a nude beach. Hmm. Then I find myself prolonging my gaze…at two old men.

With ego restored after some self-questioning, I get in the car and drive the switchbacky drive up to Mt. Tam (short for something that I don’t know) and hike the final quarter mile up to the coolest view of a city I’ve ever seen with low clouds rolling onto the tiny peninsula that houses the city of San Francisco. Highly recommended. Much more than the naked men.

The Stanford engagement went really well. This was a gratis event; at this one if you do well the first year, they invite you back with pay the next year. They invited me back for next year. The big boss guy even redirected the $500 he was gonna give to REI for some rental camp gear damages to MS for the fund-raiser and said REI would just have to suck it up. Thanks, Eric. Then I sold the poor-little-not-getting-paid-all-summer-interns a bunch of books.

So at the start of this whole Left-Right-Left Coast trip I had a little mishap. Yep. I’m at the Denver airport just in the nick of time to get my luggage checked in. At first they wouldn’t take it, said 50 minutes before the flight wasn’t enough. After some pleading and a call to the higher-ups, she takes my bags and bike and as she passes the first bag onto the belt, she says “Oops, forgot to tag that one. That’s what happens when you rush.” I give a little smile and hold back all the fun words. Then I head toward the gate, but not before feeding my face. Shoulda got it to go. Got to the gate eight minutes before scheduled departure time and they already gave away my seat. Missed the flight, along with a book signing in Eugene that night. Stupid.

So I’m killing time before my next flight in two and a half hours and in the midst of making phone calls, I discover that my credit card is not in my wallet. The credit card I rent cars, i.e., the one with enough space on it. Yeah, left it at a bar a couple nights ago. So I have no choice but to head back to Boulder, get the card, and drive back to the airport, catching the final flight of the day at 8:15 pm. But that bag didn’t make it and I didn’t get til the next night. I got to my buddy’s place at 11pm and up at 7am for a Portland TV thing – in my stinky clothes. AM Northwest it’s called. There in the Green Room I meet Tanya Brown, Nicole Simpson Brown’s sister. She’s there promoting her father’s book on domestic violence. He’s 80, he can’t hang. Just got a letter in the mail from her today. She said she got a bunch of her family members to buy the book. Cool.

Moving along, I raced the 5430 Triathlon – a half-Ironman – on July 20 here in Boulder. Good swim, good bike, tough run. Very hot and sorta difficult terrain on back roads and, at times, gnarly washboard surfaces. My 2:11 half marathon was much slower than I’d hoped for and once-again failed to accomplish the sub-5 hour half IM. I did, however, finish 5th of 33 in my age-group – everyone was bummin’ on the run – my best percentage finish at this distance. I think.

Right around this time I finally get around to reading a stack of letters from 4th graders – not even kids I’d spoken to, but their teacher found my website somehow and asked if his students could send me letters. I absolutely love getting letters from kids, so I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Then I lost them in the pile of crap that is my desk and when they resurfaced I pulled them out over dinner. I wanted to share a couple of funny selections.

Tiffany wrote: My best friend had a dog and her name was Kristle she was our other best friend. She died like 1 year ago. She got her eye cut out from cancer, and she got ran over by a truck it was so sad and she lived.

Lisa wrote: Mr Jones is a good teacher. He eats candy in front of us though.

The week before the 5430 I swam for a relay team in Aurora, just outside of Denver. It was a long sprint, almost Olymic distance. I hopped out of the water (pun intended) after a 1000-meter swim and tagged Eric Wiehenmayer (the blind dude who climbed Everest) and his pilot on the tandem who rode the 20 mile bike course before handing the duties over to Trish Downing (paraplegic who wheeled the run.) Trish was a pilot for a blind woman on the tandem when we met at the Disabled National Championships in 1998. She was hit on her bike by a woman who took a left turn when she shouldn’t have a couple years ago. Trish wasted not time getting back into sport. She has already done a few triathlons and couple of half-marathons, if I’m not mistaken. Her beautiful smile is as bright as ever. And I think we won the relay division. Never heard, actually.

I competed the prior Wednesday in a weeknight triathlon in Connecticut. The Pat Griscus Memorial Triathlon is the only weekday race I know of and I’d raced it a couple years back. The races’ namesake was the first amputee (himself a fellow BK) to run the Boston Marathon back in the ‘80s and then the first to do the Hawaiian Ironman. While training on the bike course just outside of Kona, back in the 1986 or so, he was struck and killed by a cement truck. Thanks, Pat, for opening the door.

The race is a sprint (0.5-mile swim, 10.5-mile bike, 5k run). Happy to say I had a good race and finished in 1:06, 38th place overall of 600 competitors. I ran the 5k in 20 minutes, good for me. When I can run, I do pretty well, and as of late, I’ve had little to no leg problems, which means lately I’ve been racing well. In triathlon anyway.

The previous Sunday I raced the Holliston Sprint Triathlon in Holliston, Mass (0.5-mile swim, 15-mile bike, 5-mile run). The run wasn’t as stellar other recent races, but good enough for 13th of 41 in the age group. I did this race with three other gimpy friends, all missing legs to some degree. We were all in town for the Amputee Coalition of America’s annual meeting in Boston. Best part of this trip was the fireworks. Freakin’ amazing! With the Boston Pops jammin’ and the streets packed and crazy new fireworks I’ve never seen before. Sometimes I wish I still dropped acid. Not really. Well, sorta…

I’m kinda running out of story telling steam here, but we’re not quite done. Did a crit bike race in Louisville, adjacent Boulder, and got spit out by the 35+ division on the third lap of like a 15-lap race. Then, on the last lap, as we’re about to get lapped, I go screamin’ into this corner to avoid the shame of getting lapped with just a half-mile to go, but I couldn’t hold it and had to bunny-hop the curb and go into the grass and his a rock and puncture my tire and crack the rim of my $500 carbon front wheel and ^)@($(%^#(@*&$#*&^#*!!!!!

And last but not least, I raced my first duathlon (run-bike-run) in Atlanta on June 22. (For those of you who read the CNN email, that’s when I did the BioFeedback taping. And the night before was my birthday and my first non-booze b-day in like 20-years.) I was stoked to be able to run so relatively pain-free. I gotta say relatively each and every time because it always hurts on the run; pain-free refers to not having to stop and mess with it, also known as “rebooting.” I ran the opening 10k in 44 minutes, biked the hilly, turny 40k bike in 1:09 and ran the closing 5k in just under 23. I’d been having so much trouble with Stumpie in the recent past that these were the first runs, training or racing, that I didn’t have to reboot since last August! Very cool stuff.

Paul
Good things will happen.

Paul Martin
Boulder, CO
www.onemansleg.com

KONA 2002 to AIR ON SATURDAY
From Ironman Live

2002 Ironman Triathlon World Championship To Air On NBC Saturday, August 16
NBC will run an encore presentation of the 2002 Ironman Triathlon World Championship on Saturday, August 16 from 3:00-4:30 p.m

NYC TRI SWIM CANCELLED; RACE NOW A DUATHLON

Due to unexpected heavy rain, the swim portion of the 2003 NYC Triathlon has been cancelled. Water quality tests have proven the heavy rain has caused the Hudson River to be unsafe. The race has been changed to a duathlon, featuring a 5k run, followed by the originally planned 40k bike, and final 10k run. To accomodate these changes, the start time for age group athletes has been moved to 6:30a.m.

* * NEW IMAGES ON METROTRI * *

Images have just been added for the Montauk Lighthouse Triathlon and the Ken Killian NYC Ocean Mile.

Upcoming image galleries include:

Ironman USA @ Lake Placid
FDNY Rockaway Triathlon
Mike Kiefer Swim -Run - Paddle - Run

CT Race Director Loses Sanctioning Privileges

From USA Triathlon's Angela I. Flannery via Ann Snoeyenbos:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 28, 2003) -- USA Triathlon announced Monday that it will not sanction any 2003 events put on by the Connecticut Area Triathletes (CATS), a non-profit corporation run by race director Bill Phillips.

USA Triathlon came to this decision after learning that Phillips was promoting the Summer Tri Series as USA Triathlon-sanctioned, when he had not actually applied for sanctioning. This means that there was no insurance provided for these events and they will not count toward USAT rankings.

Phillips also collected $7 one-day license fees from race participants; but this money was never turned over to USA Triathlon. One-day license fees are actually $9.

If you participated in a CATS event this year and paid $7 for a one-day license, please contact Phillips at (860) 673-2477 or at swike7ct@aol.com to receive a $7 refund.


To verify if an event has been sanctioned by USA Triathlon, go to the USAT web site at
www.usatriathlon.org and click on the "calendar" link in the upper right corner. If an event does not appear on our calendar within 30 days of the race date, contact the race director to confirm that they have applied for USAT sanctioning.