Posted: December 17, 2007

Triathlon: “Best Of The US” Announces 2008 State Qualifiers

(St. Paul, MN – 12/17/07) The following races are the official qualifying events for the 2008 Best of the US National Championship, which will be hosted by the Soma Quarterman in Tempe, Arizona on October 26. The top male and female resident amateurs at each event will earn the right to represent themselves and their states at the Championship. ALABAMA – Buster Britton Memorial Triathlon on June 9 at Oak Mountain State Park south of Birmingham, AL. Distances: 400 yard swim – 12.6 mile bike – 3 mile run. Race Director: Team-Magic / Therese Bynum @ 205-595-8633 (therese@team-magic.com) ALASKA – Northern Trust Triathlon / Alaska State Triathlon Championship on August 3 at Knik Lake in Knik, AK. Intermediate distance. Race Director: Turkey Toe Events @ 907-243-4709 (moflem@acsalaska.net) ARIZONA – Sahuarita Lake Triathlon, Presented by Rancho Sahuarita, on Monday, May 26 in Sahuarita, south of Tucson, AZ. Distances: 1K swim – 25K bike – 5K run. Race Director: Tri Tucson / Jim & Rane Stites (racedirector@tritucson.com) ARKANSAS – Ozark Valley Triathlon on June 22 at Lake Wedington Park near Fayetteville, AR. Distances: 1000 yard swim – 19 mile bike – 4 mile run. Race Director: All Sports Productions, Inc. / Bruce Dunn @ 479-521-7766 (bruce@misterguy.com) CALIFORNIA – Pacific Coast Triathlon on September 7 at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach. Distances: ½ mile swim – 12 mile bike – 3 mile run. Race Director: Bill Leach @ 949-701-5590 (billleach@sbcglobal.net) COLORADO – Loveland Lake to Lake Triathlon on June 28 at North Lake Park in Loveland, CO. Distances: Swim 1.5K – bike 30 miles – Run 10K). Race Director: Peggy Shockley @ 970-669-6372 (peggy@lovelandlaketolake.com) CONNECTICUT – Pat Griskus Olympic Triathlon on June 14 at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, CT. Distances: 1 mile swim – 25 mile bike – 10K run. Race Director: Tom Wilkas @ 860-868-0540 (twilkas@snet.net) DELAWARE – Make-A-Wish Triathlon at Sea Colony on September 21 at Bethany Beach, DE. Distances: Swim 1.5K – bike 36K – run 10K. Race Director: Columbia Triathlon Association / Rob Vigorito @ 410-964-1246 (events@tricolumbia.org) FLORIDA – Zephyr Sport Sprint Triathlon on May 3 at Crescent Beach in St. Augustine, FL. Distances: .5 mile swim – 13 mile bike – 5K run. Race Director: Exclusive Sports Marketing @ 561-241-3801 (ffw@exclusivesports.com) GEORGIA – West Point Lake Triathlon on July 14 at West Point Lake near LeGrange, GA. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Georgia Multisports / Jim Rainey (jim@gamultisports.com) HAWAII – 11th Anniversary Lavaman Triathlon on April 6 at Waikoloa Beach on the Kohala Coast. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Gerry Rott (racedirector@lavamantriathlon.com) IDAHO – YMCA Spudman Triathlon on June 7 (date tentative) at Springs Shores Marina in Boise. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Tim Severa @ 208-859-7953 (tim.severa@ymcatvidaho.org) ILLINOIS – Evergreen Lake International Triathlon, presented by Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission, on July 19 at Comlara County Park in Hudson, IL. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Tri-Mom Events, LLC / Colleen Klein @ 309-212-6830 (trimomevents@verizon.net) INDIANA – Mideast Sprint Optimists Triathlon on June 28 at Lake Winona Park near Warsaw, IN. Distances: Ό mile swim – 13.5 mile bike – 3 mile run. Race Director: Ron Donkers (rondonkers@hotmail.com) IOWA – Pigman Sprint Triathlon on June 1 at Pleasant Creek State Park near Cedar Rapids, IA. Distances: .5K swim – 25K bike – 5K run. Race Director: John Snitko at 319-373-0741 (john@pigmantri.com) KANSAS – Shawnee Mission Triathlon on July 13 at Shawnee Mission Park in Shawnee Mission, KS. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Chad Tower @ 913-236-1231 (chad.tower@jocogov.org) KENTUCKY – Buffalo Trails Triathlon on May 24 in Maysville, KY. Distances: .5 mile swim – 22 mile bike – 5K run. Race Director: Mark Day (activedc@maysvilleky.net) LOUISIANA – Hidden Paradise Triathlon on May 4 at Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, LA. Distances: 600 yard swim – 13 mile bike – 3.2 mile run. Race Director: DLT Event Management, Inc. / Fred Phillips @ 870-246-6686 (DLTevents@yahoo.com) MAINE – Fireman Sprint Triathlon, the official triathlon of the Maine Games, on August 24 in Kennebunk, ME. Race Director: Jeff Cole (jdcole@coleharrison.com) MARYLAND / DC – Columbia Triathlon, presented by Under Armour, on May 18 at Centennial Park in Ellicott City, MD. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Columbia Triathlon Association / Rob Vigorito (info@tricolumbia.org) MASSACHUSETTS – Duxbury Beach Triathlon on September 20 (date tentative) at Duxbury Beach, MA. Distances: 1/2 mile swim - 13.7 mile bike - 3.3 mile run. Race Director: Brian Noyes at 781-706-1166 (director@duxburybeachtriathlon.com) MICHIGAN – Kensington Triathlon on June 29 at Kensington Metropark/Maple Beach in Milford, MI. Distances: 800m swim – 15 mile bike – 4 mile run. Race Director: Jim Jackson (jim@theelementevents.com) MINNESOTA – Lake Waconia Triathlon on June 29 in Waconia, MN. Distances: .5 mile swim – 16.5 mile bike – 4 mile run. Race Director: Tom Konrardy at 952-442-2825 (waconiatriathlon@aol.com). MISSISSIPPI – Heart O’ Dixie Triathlon, presented by the Philadelphia Sertoma Club, on July 26 at Lake Tiak-O’Khata in Louisville, MS and finishes at Neshoba County Fairgrounds in Philadelphia, MS. Distances: .5 mile swim – 25.7 mile bike – 7 mile run. Race Director: John Williams at 601-562-2266 (john.willims2@cingular.com) MISSOURI – Quartermax Triathlon at the Innsbrook Resort near St. Louis, MO. Date TBA. Distances: 1000 yard swim – 28 mile bike – 6.5 mile run. Race Director: Ultramax Events / Mark Livesay at 573-443-7036 (mark@ultramaxtri.com) MONTANA – Janet Clarkson Memorial Triathlon on June 21 at the Madison Arm Resort near West Yellowstone, MT. Distances: .65 mile swim – bike 13.3 miles – run 4.2 miles. Race Director: Jack Clarkson @ 406-646-9328 (janetstriathlon@earthlink.net) NEBRASKA – Nebraska State Games Triathlon, presented by Tiger Coaching and Villager Hotel, on July 27 at Holmes Lake Park in Lincoln. Distances: 1K swim – 20K bike – 5K run. Race Director: Gary Bredehoft of Tiger Coaching & Personal Training @ 402-488-8280 (coach@tigercoaching.com) NEW HAMPSHIRE – YMCA Triathlon at Clough State Park on September 6 at Clough State Park in Weare, NH. Distances: ½ mile swim – Bike 14 miles – Run 3 miles. Race Director: Jeff Litchfield (nhactive@lycos.com) NEW JERSEY – New Jersey State Triathlon on July 27 at Mercer County Park, NJ. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: CGI Racing / Larry & Michelle Redrow at 856-468-0925 (lredrow@cgievents.com) NEW MEXICO – 24th Annual Milkman Triathlon on May 31 at Lake Van in Dexter, NM. Distances: .5K swim - 20K bike – 5K run. Race Director: Larry Marshall (lmarshall@fbfs.com) NEVADA – Rage in the Sage Triathlon on April 19 at Lake Mead Recreational Area near Las Vegas, NV. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: BBSC Endurance Sports / Brogg Sterrett (race@bbscenduranesports.com) NEW YORK – Mini Musselman Triathlon on July 12 in Geveva, NY. Distances: 500 yard swim – bike 15 miles – 3 mile run. Director: Jeff Henderson (jeff@onemillionrevolutions.com) or (jeff@portlandtri.com) NORTH CAROLINA – White Lake Sprint Triathlon on May 4 at North Carolina FFA Center in White Lake, NC. Distances: 750m swim – 14 mile bike – 5K run. Race Director: Set Up Events / Bill Scott (bill@setupevents.com) NORTH DAKOTA – Bismarck Triathlon on June 8 at Misty Waters Marina three miles north of Bismarck. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Dennis Kemmesat (dennisk@frontierprecision.com) OHIO – Caesar Creek International Triathlon (to be confirmed) on July 6 at Caesar Creek State Park near Waynesville, OH. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: HFP Racing / Shannon Kurek (customerservice@hfpracing.com) OKLAHOMA – Route 66 Triathlon, presented by Tri-OKC and the City of El Reno, on June 2 at Lake El Reno in El Reno. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Tri-OKC / Steve Bussjaeger (steveb@hispaint.com) OREGON – Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon on August 31 in Portland, OR. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Jeff Henderson (jeff@portlandtri.com) PENNSYLVANIA – Black Bear Sprint Triathlon (to be confirmed) on June 1 at Beltzeville State Park. Distances: 750m swim – 18 mile bike – 5K run. Race Director: CGI Racing / Larry & Michelle Redrow (info@cgiracing.com) RHODE ISLAND – Block Island Triathlon on August 2 at Fred Benson Town Beach in Block Island. Distances: Ό mile swim – 12 mile bike – 4 mile run. Race Director: Robbie Closter (ecreation@new-shoreham.com) SOUTH CAROLINA – Clemson Triathlon on May 10 at Foothills Family YMCA in Seneca, SC. Distances: 750m swim – 11 mile bike – 5K run. Race Director: Set Up Events / Jeremey Davis (jdavis@setupevents.com) SOUTH DAKOTA – Dakota Man Triathlon on June 14 at Lake Alvin near Harrisburg, SD. Distances: 600m swim – 16 mile bike – 3.5 mile run. Race Director: Howard Bich (habich@sio.midco.net) TENNESSEE – Chattanooga Riverfront Triathlon on July 13 in downtown Chattooga. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Team-Magic / Faye Yates @ 415-460-9927 (faye@team-magic.com) TEXAS – Buffman & Squeaky Triathlon on May 18 at Buffalo Springs Lake southeast of Lubbock, TX. Intermediate Distance. Race Directors: Mike & Marti Greer (marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com) UTAH – St. George Triathlon (SGTRI) on May 10 at Sand Hollow Reservoir near St. George, UT. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: BBSC Endurance Sports / Brogg Sterrett (race@bbscendurancesports.com) VERMONT – Lake Dunsmore Triathlon on August 2 at Bradbury State Park in Salisbury, VT. Distances: Swim .9 mile – Bike 44K – Run 10K. Race Director: Jerrod Rushton @ 802-388-6888 (vtsun@together.net) VIRGINIA – Luray International Triathlon on August 16 at Lake Arrowhead Park in Luray, VA. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Set Up Events / Greg Hawkins at 336-577-2801 (greg@setupevents.com) WASHINGTON - Chelanman Multisport Weekend on July 19 at Lake Chelan in Chelan, WA. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Total Health Events / Jonathan Hoskins at 360-325-0715 (info@totalhealthevents.com) (www.chalanman.com) WEST VIRGINIA – Med Express Mountaineer International Triathlon on June 29 in Morgantown, WV. Intermediate Distance. Race Director: Scott Erdman / HFP Racing (scott2007@hfpracing.com) WISCONSIN – Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon on June 15 at Fireman’s Park in Verona, WI. Intermediate Distance. Race Directors: Jim Bruskewitz & Dan Seymour (ep1@charter.net) WYOMING – Janet Clarkson Memorial Triathlon on June 21 at the Madison Arm Resort near West Yellowstone, MT. Distances: .65 mile swim – bike 13.3 miles – run 4.2 miles. Race Director: Jack Clarkson @ 406-646-9328 (janetstriathlon@earthlink.net) The 4th Annual BEST OF THE US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP will be staged on October 26 at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, AZ. Distances. 1000m swim – 30 mile bike – 6.55 mile run. Race Director: Red Rock Company / Jeff Suffolk @ 480-226-4729 (jeff@redrockco.com) Note: Event dates are subject to change. Consult officlal event websites for updates. The Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlete Competition is produced by Midwest Events, LLC of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest