ST. PAUL, MN / June 22, 2009 - For the first two years, the Fastest State Team
Competition at the Best of the U.S. Championship was a squeaker. In 2005, 5
seconds separated the 1st and 2nd place teams (Florida's Lotte Branigan and
John Reback, followed by Colorado's Wendy Mader and Craig Greenslit) and
less than a minute separated the Top 5 Teams. Then in 2006, Team Alaska
(Shannon Donley and Jens Beck) took the title with just 2 seconds between
them and second place Team Colorado (Mader/Greenslit again). Just 3 more
seconds separated 3rd place, Team Minnesota (Cathy Yndestad and Brian Bich).
And again, less than 1 minute separated the entire Top 5. It appeared a
trend for the team competition was set.
Then came 2007. Team Wisconsin, consisting of Cindi Bannink and Mark Harms,
blew it out for the Team win, with a 1:56 margin over second place Team
Arizona (Champion Katie Ellis and Cam Hill). The Badger State duo returned
in 2008 to take 4th place Team honors.
Cindi Bannink (32, Madison) is one of a rare breed: athletes who have
represented their state at the Best of the U.S. Championship every year. Not
only that, she has finished 9th (in '05), 13th (in '06, while injured), 4th
('07) and 7th ('08). Teammate Mark Harms (33, Madison) was 5th in 2006, 3rd
in 2007, and 7th in 2008.
Joining them on the BOUS podium at Sunday's Wisconsin Triterium were Matt
Groose and Emily Farrell in 2nd and David Peters and Heather Curnutt in 3rd.
Medalists at DakotaMan Triathlon, Qualifier for South Dakota were:
First:Kristina Hein, 33, Sioux Falls and Justin Manning, 23, Tea
Second: Barbara Wehde, 20, Sioux Falls and Jason Crisp (2008 SD Representative;29, Madison, SD)
Third: Kendra Lamberty, 40, Sioux Falls and Joshua Hochstein (32, Yankton)
Next up:
Best of the U.S. Week 12, June 27 & 28
Saturday, June 27
Race #24 Mideast Sprint Optimists Indiana Qualifier
www.warsawoptimist.org.
Sunday, June 28
Race #25 Cheyenne Sprint Wyoming Qualifier
www.cheyennesprinttriathlon.com.
Race #26 Lake Waconia Tri Minnesota Qualifier
www.lakewaconiatriathlon.net.
Race #27 Philly Tri Pennsylvania Qualifier
www.phillytri.com.
Best of the U.S. Info: www.bestoftheustriathletes.com.
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