March 15, 2011

AK is more than OK; OK is way A-OK!

Oklahoma and Alaska are probably not the first states you think of when pondering triathlon. The two states couldn't be much more opposite in climate and terrain. But consider this:

For the first time ever in BOUS history, Oklahoma repeated an overall Championship, first in 2009 with Bethany Handley, followed by Joanna Fiddler in 2010.

2006: 19-year-old student, Dan Agnew of Oklahoma--at the Championship on a passdown--finishes an astounding 6th overall in the breakout performance of the day. Two places back: 36-year-old (at the time)...Jens Beck, from Alaska. Together with mom and elementary teacher Shannon Donley, who finishes 7th, they combine for the overall Fastest State Team award. Dan and fellow Sooner Christa Wolfe are 5th Fastest State Team.

2007: Alaska's Lori Deschamps makes the Top Ten, at 8th place. Fueled by his 2006 success, Dan Agnew qualified and came loaded for bear, but sadly went down with heat stroke.

2008: Shannon Donley, again, at 10th place. Amanda Erwin of––where else––Oklahoma, posts a sizzling sixth place. Erwin went home determined to qualify again, with her sights set on a championship podium spot, but suffered significant injuries in a car/bike accident.

2009: Jens Beck returns and produces an impressive 5th place finish in a heavily stacked field. With Larrell Lockard, they return to Anchorage with trophies as the 5th Fastest State Team. Meanwhile, Oklahoma's Bethany Handley started out fast and got faster, leading from sand to tape.

2010: In a BOUS deja-vu experience, here comes the first woman...blazing down the home stretch like the wind comes whistling down the plain, big smile on her face, perfect white teeth and she's from... Oh, oh, oh, Oklahoma! Only this time it's Joanna Fiddler, who had to run down highly decorated veterans Suzanne Huelster (CO, 2008 & 2009 U.S. Duathlete of the Year) and Shannon Donley (AK) to take the Women's Championship!

Meanwhile, Team Alaska had come roaring into southern California with a powerful team, led by Beck--now age 40, who goes on to win it all and make history as the first-ever Master's Champion. Teammate Shannon Donley very nearly made it a double victory for Alaska, but takes a proud 2nd place, and together she and Jens reclaim the Fastest State Team title. Alaska made their mark on the new team awards category, too. Jens and Andy Duenow combined for the Fastest Men's State Team honors. Carolyn Barry was on her way to a performance that could have placed in the Fastest Women's Team category, but unfortunately flatted. Larrell Lockard (right, biking) was also back as Alaska's third female team member, earning well-deserved kudos from the appreciative crowd as she emerged from the lake first––the fastest swim of the day.

Any bets on 2011?