Best of the U.S. Championships Competition Set for October Race

October 9, 2008 from press release (St. Paul MN) According to Best of the US co-founder Jerry MacNeil, “the 2008 Championship promises to be the most exciting ever. The women’s race is wide open. Pre-race favorites were victorious in each of the first three Championships. This year, there is no clear favorite. Any of at least dozen or so women can win.” When challenged to come up with 12 names, MacNeil came up with fourteen: “Shannon Donley of Alaska, Elizabeth Ott of Illinois, Amanda Erwin of Oklahoma, Cindi Bannink of Wisconsin, Kirsten Sass of Tennessee, Suzanne Huelster of New Jersey, Chris Tommerdahl of North Carolina, Margot Hair of Mississippi, Beth Schutt of Pennsylvania, Chris Wickard of Indiana, masters star Tracy Orcutt of Washington, Marlo McGaver of Minnesota, Andrea Myers of Ohio. And let’s not forget Kathy Rakel of the Home Team (Arizona).” He was then quick to point out that breakthrough performances are part of the BOUS signature and there are sure to be athletes that are unmentioned here on the 10-step podium.

MacNeil also believes that the race for USAT Male Master of the Year is sure to be influenced, if not actually determined, by what unfolds in Tempe on October 26. “The race-within-the-race between Minnesota’s Brian Bich, 42, Tennessee’s Bruce Gennari, 40, and Hawaii’s Luis De La Torre, 40, could well determine the MOY award. And these are not the only top 40-plussers in the men’s field. Making things even more interesting will be New Hampshire’s Bill Reeves, 41, Kentucky’s Barry Knight, 42, Arizona’s Cam Hill, 41, and Ahmed Zaher, 44 of Texas. Don’t be surprised if a master cracks the overall top 3.”

The top 3 women from the 2007 Championship, all of whom earned USAT AOY Honorable Mention status, will not be racing this year. Katie Ellis (AZ) and Kim Webster (MA) are now licensed pros and Cathy Yndestad is focusing on the Hawaiian Ironman, which is two weeks before the BOUS Champs. On the other hand, the top 3 men from last year’s Championship, are back. Defending champ and runner-up for AOY in 2007, Philippe Kozub (MD) does not expect to repeat, thanks to a brutal work schedule that has severely limited his training. Nevertheless, “muscle memory” (in addition to his win last year, Philippe was 2 nd at the 2006 Championship) may be enough to land him on the podium. Ohio’s Scott Myers and Wisconsin’s Mark Harms, last year’s runner-up and third placer, should once again battle for top spots, as should Craig Greenslit of Colorado (2 nd at the 2005 BOUS Championship). As in the women’s competition, the list of potential podium (10 spots) finishers is a long one, and includes Rick Fesler (PA), talented newcomer David Slavinski (NJ), Christopher Thomas (CT), Michael Sevier (VA), Matt Migonis (NY), Matt West (MI), Eddie Branigan (FL), Todd Menzel (CA), Grant Folske (OR), Vinnie Monseau (WV), Roger Thompson (WA), Fred West (AK), Clay Moseley (NM) and any of the masters mentioned in the second paragraph.

Here is the 2008 Best of the US Start List:
#1 - Delaware - David Luscan, 36, Rehoboth Beach & Margaret Colvan, 47, Rehoboth Beach
#2 - Pennsylvania - Rick Fesler, 27, Camp Hill & Beth Schutt, 29, Natrona Heights
#3 - New Jersey - David Slavinski, 37, Point Park & Suzanne Huelster, 34, Riverton
#4 - Georgia - Dennis Reardon, 36, Canton & Kristel Maes *, 32, Savannah
#5 - Connecticut - Christopher Thomas *36, Easton & Rebecca Stephenson, 36, Unionville
#6 - Massachusetts - John Peters, 44, Maynard & Nancy Thomson *, 44, Sudbury
#7 - Maryland/DC - Philippe Kozub *, 33, Bethesda & Krista Schultz *, 30, Towson
#8 - South Carolina - Mark Woody *, 38, Chapin & Katharine Welling, 34, Spartanburg
#9 - New Hampshire - Bill Reeves, 41, Durham & Amber Cullen, 26, Concord
#10 - Virginia - Michael Sevier, 29, Herndon & Cheryl McMurray, 40, Fairfax
#11 - New York - Matt Migonis, 27, Syracuse & Kristen Bednar, 26, Canton
#12 - North Carolina - David Williams, 31, Durham & Chris Tommerdahl, 22, Chapel Hill
#13- Rhode Island - Syndey Monstream-Quas, 40, Barrington
#14 - Vermont - Luke Moore, Stowe & Leslie Myers, 41, Burlington
#15 - Kentucky - Barry Knight* , 42, Paducah & Alison Poe *, 26 Maysville
#16 - Tennessee - Bruce Gennari *, 42, Brentwood & Kirsten Sass, 29, McKenzie
#17 - Ohio - Scott Myers *, 32, Wellston & Andrea Myers *, 31, Wellston
#18 - Louisiana - Ben Hall *, 17, Ruston & Katie White, 39, Monroe
#19 - Indiana - Luke Beasley, 20, Muncie & Chris Wickard, 37, Crown Point
#20 - Margot Hair *, 28, Diamondhead
#21 - Illinois - Colin Riley, Springfield & Elizabeth Ott, 30, Naperville
#22 - Alabama - Morgan Ramey *, 40, Helena & Julie Vanzandt, 26, Birmingham
#23 - Maine - Stephen Judice *, Dayton & Denise Goode, Portland
#24 - Missouri - Joe Company, Columbia & Lisa Lewis, Chesterfield
#25 - Arkansas - Maggie Pickhardt, 16, Fayetteville
#26 - Michigan - Matt West *,33, Ypsilanti & Sarah Demerly, 26, Dearborn
#27 - Florida - Eddie Branigan *, 36, Vero Beach & Angela Hygema *, 33, Dania Beach
#28 - Texas - Ahmed Zaher, 44, Dallas & Stacy Fennell, 32, Arlington
#29 - Iowa -TBA
#30 - Wisconsin - Mark Harms *, 33, Madison & Cindi Bannink *, 32, Madison
#31 - California - Todd Menzel, Irovine & Linda Vigil, 40, Carlsbad
#32 - Minnesota - Brian Bich *, 42, Duluth & Marlo McGaver, 38, Duluth
#33 - Oregon - Grant Folske, Beaverton & Lindsay Fox, 25, Beaverton
#34 - Kansas - Leslie Curley, 39, Topeka
#35 - West Virginia - Vinnie Monseau, 39, Morgantown & Hannah Vernon, 18, Morgantown
#36 - Nevada - Chris Fetter, 30, Las Vegas & Dana Ginsburg *, 43, Reno
#37 - Nebraska - Marc Ellingson, 25, Omaha & Morgan Chaffin, 25, Omaha
#38 - Colorado - Craig Greenslit *, 39, Berthoud & Sydney Cornell, Parker
#39 - North Dakota - Melanie Carvell, 48, Bismarck
#40 - South Dakota - Jason Crisp, 28, Madison
#41 - Montana - Kristina Smith *, Great Falls
#42 - Washington - Roger Thompson, Spokane & Tracy Orcutt *, 41, Seattle
#43 - Idaho - Peter Ney, Boise & Rachel Corey, Boise
#45 - Utah - Randall Olsen *, 41, St. George & Amber Mounday, 33, Ogden
#46 - Oklahoma - Christian Ballard, 37, Norman & Amanda Erwin, 36, Tulsa
#47 - New Mexico - Clay Moseley *, 37, Los Alamos & Gretchen McElroy, 44, Santa Teresa
#48 - Arizona - Cam Hill *, 41, Fountain Hills & Kathy Rakel, 24, Tucson
#49 - Alaska - Fred West, Anchorage & Shannon Donley, 38, Anchorage
#50 - Hawaii - Luis De La Torre, 40, Kailua Kona

Like the top 10 men and women, the top 5 state teams will receive special awards. In 2005 and 2006, only 2 seconds separated the Fastest State Team (combined times of male & female participant) from its closest challenger. In 2007, however, Team Wisconsin—Mark Harms and Cindi Bannink—were dominant, winning by a margin of 1:56. Harms and Bannink are back to defend. On paper, the teams from PA, NJ, MN, TN, WA and AK should make it difficult for Team WI to repeat.

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