Nicholas Sterghos of the United States Military Academy and Suzanne Huelster of Riverton, New Jersey took the overall titles at the USA Triathlon Duathlon age group national championships Sunday in Richmond, Virginia.
Sterghos, a West Point cadet who finished 8th overall and second on his team at last week’s Collegiate Nationals at Lubbock, Texas, took the crown with a 1:49:02 which also earned him the men’s 20-24 title. Sterghos, a vegetarian, outperformed the next best men’s age group champion, 30-34 winner Eneas Freyre of Norwalk Connecticut, by 1 minute 20 seconds.
Huelster’s margin of overall victory was much closer, as her 2:06:08 finish outpaced women’s 25-29 winner Crystal Anthony of Beverly Massachusetts by 8 seconds.
Masters and grandmasters titles went to Greg Pelican, 50, of Bethel, Connecticut and Ellen Hart, 51, of Denver, Colorado. Jeff Miller, 42, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and Kristine Kuss, 41, of Polly Drummond, Delaware, were the masters champions.
“This was so fun. Especially for someone whose weak link is the swim,” said Hart to USA Triathlon media representatives. Hart had only done one duathlon before Sunday.
“This was awesome,” she added. “The bike course was so fun, going over the bridges. You never got bored. It’s really different from triathlon in how you unroll the ball of yarn, your energy level to get through to the end. I will do this again.”
Hundreds of spectators cheered on some 1,200 entries for the weekend Duathlon Festival on scenic courses which wound through Richmond’s parks and bridges along the historic James River. The competitors battled temperatures that rose into the low 90s in events that also included off-road races on Saturday and closed Sunday with on-road races for youth, juniors and adults.
USA Triathlon Duathlon age group National Championship
Richmond, Virginia
April 26, 2009
R 10k/ B 38k/ R 5k
Age group winners
Female Physically Challenged Patricia Collins, 40, Alexandria VA 3:11:50
Male Physically Challenged David Kyle, 37, Athens AL. 2:42:36
M18-19: Alex Hopkins, 19, Blacksburg, VA 2:01:06
M20-24 Nicholas Sterghos, 22, West Point N.Y 1:49:02
F20-24 Randall Wintermantel, 22, West Point N.Y 2:12:28
M25-29 Daniel Moss, 28, Simpsonville SC 1:52:19
F25-29 Crystal Anthony, 29, Beverly MA 2:06:16
M30-34: Eneas Freyre, 33, Norwalk CT 1:50:22
F30-34: Amy Farrell, 32, Saranac Lake NY 2:13:00
M35-39: Todd Wiley, 39, Pipersville PA 1:52:46
F35-39: Suzanne Huelster, 35, Riverton NJ 2:06:08
M40-44: Jeff Miller, 42, Lewiston PA 1:54:27
F40-44: Kristine Kuss, 41, Polly Drummond DE 2:10:34
M45-49: Chris Giordanelli, 45, Simpsonville SC 1:54:57
F45-49: Kristin Villopoto, 49, Chapel Hill NC 2:11:32
M50-54: Greg Pelican, 50, Bethel, CT 2:00:52
F50-54: Ellen Hart, 51, Denver CO 2:08:26
M55-59: Fred Galata, 58, Omaha NE 2:07:15
F55-59: Cheryl Hart, 55, Louisville KY 2:09:29
M60-64: Steve Ruckert, 60, Woodbine MD 2:07:08
F60-64: Anne Viviani, 60, Arlington VA 2:51:28
M65-69: Tony Marshall, 65, Chula Vista CA 2:15:39
F65-69: Ann Erickson, 67, The Woodlands TX 2:35:33
M70-74: James Girand, 72, Palo Alto CA 2:37:38
F70-74: Sharon Roggenbuck, 71, Hillsborough NC 3:17:57
M80-84: Edwin Bixenstine, 83, Kent OH 3:07:14
