Posted: July 17, 2008

Triathlon: “Best Of The US” Invites Virginia’s Best To Race At The Luray International Triathlon On August 16

(St. Paul, MN – 7/17/2008)–– “Best of the US” Management, David Glover of Endurance Works and Greg Hawkins from Set Up Events invite the talented triathletes of Virginia to race at the 3rd annual LURAY INTERNATIONAL / BEST OF THE US VIRGINIA QUALIFIER at picturesque Lake Arrowhead Park near Luray, VA on August 16. Virginia was well-represented at the “Best of the US Championship” the last three years. In 2005, Michael Harlow and Margie Shapiro, placed 6th the Fastest State Competition. Harlow, a rising young star, finished 22nd in the men’s race; Shapiro thoroughly dominated the women’s contest, winning by 1:43. Shapiro was later named US Female Triathlete of the Year by USA Triathlon, Inside triathlon, Triathlete and Midwest Events Magazine. After winning the ITU World Championships in the fall of 2005, Shapiro entered the pro ranks. Virginia’s delegates in 2006 were multisport pioneer Doug Marocco and rising star Lynn Scharf, who now resides in Colorado. Virginia’s most potent team to date was assembled in 2007, when decorated stars Kelly Williamson and Amanda Pagon finished 6th and 5th in their respective races. Their combined efforts placed them 3rd in the Fastest Team Competition. Virginia can be expected to send a very strong team to the 2008 Championship, which will be staged on October 26 at Tempe Towne Lake in Tempe, AZ. Below is an alphabetical listing of some of the great Virginia athletes we hope to see on August 26: Women: Samantha Bird Cherie Fernandez Julie Gibbons Hope Hall Diane Haupt Karen Helmstetter Megan Knepper Suzanne Laprada-Lewis Julie Lestyan Kathyrn Martin Cheryl McMurray Kate Murray Christie O’Hara Amanda Pagon Connie Peterson Cat Phillips Crystal Pruitt Shandra Richardson Monica Robbers Elizabeth Schieber Shannon Summerlin   Men: Joel Bell David Cascio Mark Cockrell Brady Dehoust Eric Dempster Michael Flanagan Paul Gantzler Adam Hodges Ryan Hyslop Karl Kahsar Kevin Kunkel Craig Lauinger Doug Marocco John McGarva Jason McKay Michael Orton Adam Ostot Jimmy Parrott Mark Shaffer   David Steele Ted Waugh Kelly Williamson Marcus Wright For more information on the Luray International Triathlon, visit www.setupevents.com. The Best of the US Amateur Triathlete Competition is produced by Midwest Events, LLC of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Website: www.bestoftheustriathletes.com. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest