LAKE SAN ANTONIO California -- Kyle Leto of UC Davis, who just missed a shot at USAT Collegiate Nationals two weeks ago because he graduated out of eligibility, used a sizzling 17:16 swim to gain a three minute lead on close rival; Kenneth Rakestraw of UC Berkeley, then held on to most of that on the bike and run to take a 2 minute 23 second margin of victory at the Wildflower Olympic distance race Sunday.

"This is a really good stepping stone," said Leto. "A lot of people start their careers with a win at the Wildflower Olympic, and I'm ready to see what I can do in the sport."

Timers lost track of Jennifer Luebke, a senior at the University of Montana at Missoula, after her 21:58 swim put her 6th in her collegiate wave. But when she crossed the line of the hilly and challenging Wildflower Olympic distance course in 2:22:29, she had whipped all her fellow collegians by a mile and edged 30-34 aged group champion Jenny Fletcher of Miami Beach, Florida by 62 seconds.

"I didn’t make it to Wildflower last year, and two years ago I passed out in the heat on the run," said Luebke. "So this year I made sure to drink all my bottle on the bike and to GU down on the bike and run. So I am very very happy to finally finish this race."

The men

Leto, a 15:45 mile swimmer in college, blitzed his collegiate swim wave with a 17:16 for the 1500 meters that gave him nearly three minutes on dangerous rival Kenneth Rakestraw of UC Berkeley. Leto then gave back nearly 90 seconds on the first half of the challenging hilly bike. "Kenny almost caught me on the first half of the bike," said Leto. "My legs were a little tight after climbing Lynch Hill out of transition. But once they got warmed up, I had a much faster second half."

When the ride was over, Leto's 1:06:42 only gave away 32 seconds to Rakestraw, and Leto started the run with 2:30 in hand. "Kyle had a big lead out of the water and I knew I had to go hard to track him down," said Rakestraw, who finished 5th at USAT Collegiate Nationals two weeks ago. "He's a really great athlete and too bad he couldn’t race at Lubbock. He might have won."

Leto, a Wildflower rookie, hit the run hard despite his considerable lead. "Since this was my first time at Wildflower, I didn't really have a strategy," said Leto. "Just go as hard as I could and hope Kenny didn't run me down. I was really happy to get the win, because this was the first time I beat him all year."

Rakestraw pushed all the way, but his 35:48 run only took seven more seconds from Leto and never got in touch. "You have to know your pace on the bike," said Rakestraw. "So you can handle the hills on the run. My legs started cramping a bit on the last uphill, so I was glad I had the last downhill on Lynch Rd. to maintain momentum."

With this race and an age group win at Treasure Island, Leto will now pursue a pro career.

The women

With her closest pursuer, 34-year-old age grouper Jenny Fletcher of Miami Beach, Florida way back in the multiple wave starts, Jennifer Luebke only knew where she stood in her wave. "bout 6th" out of the water, Luebke mowed through her wave and took the lead just before the 20km turnaround. "After that, I kept cruising, because I thought I needed a cushion because I don’t have the fastest run." By T2, Luebke guessed she had a 2 minute margin, but later discovered it was 4 minutes - on her wave.

"I never saw anybody and I didn't know where anybody was. so I just ran my heart out," she said.

Luebke benefited by training with University of Montana at Missoula grad Linsey Corbin in the swim and bike. "She swims with me and I hang on her wheel on the bike. But she is way too fast for me on the run."

Too bad Corbin withdrew her entry for the long course due to a lingering injury. . She could have cheered on her training partner on the biggest win of her life.

27th Avia Wildflower Olympic Distance
Lake San Antonio, California
May 3, 2009
S 1.5k/ B40k/ R 10k

Results

Overall men

1. Kyle Leto, 23, UC Davis, 2:02:23
2. Kenneth Rakestraw, 21, UC Berkeley 2:04:48
3. Matt Shryrock, 23, University of Montana 2:08:11
4. David Valencia, 31, Encinitas CA 2:10:42
5. Timothy Ray, 29, Del Mar CA 2:11:45
6. Eric Wegshieder, 23, San Jose CA 2:12:04
7. Craig Fellers, 24, UC Berkeley 2:12:18
8. John Murphy, 45, Napa CA 2:12:15
9. Scott Robertson, 30, San Francisco CA 2:12:43
10. Chris Jackson, 21, Burbank CA 2:13:13

Overall women

1. Jennifer Luebke, 23, University of Montana 2:22:29
2. Jenny Fletcher, 34, Miami Beach FL 2:23:31
3. Darlene Hunt, 28, UC San Diego 2:24:17
4. Gallison Johnston, 21, Concord CA 2:27:33
5. Alexa Merz, 22, Pacific Palisades CA 27:34
6. Brianna Blanchard, 21, Agoura CA 29:13
7. Sarah Kavaler, 21, San Diego CA 2:29:25
8. Mary Ann Smith, 37, Davis CA 2:29:26
9. Jocelyn Wong, 28, Pacifica CA 2:31:36
10. Lisa Fong, 27, Del Mar CA 2:31:53