March 18, 2004

Almaden Valley Athletic Club hosts 17 th annual Super Sprint Triathlon Classic

Annual event draws world-class athletes and amateurs of all ages

By Kymberli W. Brady

Staff Writer

An estimated 118 triathletes ages 6 to 60 took advantage of picture-perfect weather to participate in the 17 th annual Almaden Valley Super Sprint Triathlon last Saturday. The daylong event featured 14 divisions, including 11 age groups, a 200-pound-plus “Clydesdale” relay , the much-anticipated "Open/Elite" group of men versus women. Medals were handed out to those with the top five race times in each of the 14 divisions at the award ceremonies that followed.

Co-sponsored by Kain Performance Multi-Sport, the event featured professional athletes, amateurs and club members, and highlighting the “Open/Elite” race, where nine athletes—including 2002 USA Triathlete of the Year Pete Kain, and professional triathletes Erin McCarty, Pat Williams, and Brian Lavelle— competed for $350 in prize money,

“This is one of the Bay Area's longest standing races,” stated Pete Kain, head coach of Kain Performance Multi-Sport. “Each year, the competition toughens between world-class athletes and amateurs alike, drawing participants and sponsors from all over the region.”

Adult competitors were required to complete a 400-yard swim, a five-mile ride on a Spinnaker stationary bike, and a two-mile run in the neighborhood surrounding the facility. Because it is touted as a great “entry-level” event for all ages, the Super Sprint Triathlon drew participants from around the country, as well as local community members and sponsors, including J&A Productions, the foremost production company for triathlons in Northern California, along with Bell Sports®, High Tech Burrito®, Power Bar® Power Gel®, Red Bull® and Runner's Factory.

“AVAC's focus has always been to foster a healthy lifestyle for the entire family, from youth to seniors,” said club owner Joe Shank. “This event is unique because amateurs have the opportunity to run with the pros. This is also truly an extraordinary occasion for our youth to meet professional athletes and a great mentoring opportunity for the triathletes.”

In the highly anticipated Open/Elite division, 44 seconds divided the top three finishers and first place. A $200 prize went to San Jose resident Joe Sanders, while s econd place honors and $100 was awarded to Brian Lavelle of Cupertino. Eleven-year veteran Erin Mc Carty, the only female in that category, took advantage of a four-minute handicap and held on to take third place and $50. Pete Kain finished just 23 seconds after Sanders to take the number six spot.

Brian Lavelle's wife, AVAC personal trainer and Olympic hopeful Becky Gibbs Lavelle, although expected to race, was nursing an injury and did not participate. “Apparently she has an extensive leg injury that has been healing for the last number of months,” said Shank. “She feels that she needs another week or so before she can run on it. It would be detrimental to the fact that the first Olympic trial, if she wins it, will put her in the Olympics.”

Lavelle is ranked 30 th in the world and is among the nation's top five female triathletes. She recently placed second at the Life Fitness Triathlon™ and is expected to resume racing at the Olympic Trials in Honolulu on April 18, followed by the world championships in Madera, Portugal.

Before her injury, Lavelle had hoped to compete with her husband. “I'm bummed because we've never been able to go head-to-head here,” she admitted. “I was gone when he won it three years ago. He was injured the last two years and now I'm injured.”

Lavelle did however, hit the water and shared a lane with her father-in-law, Tim Lavelle, for a little one-on-one competition during his heat. “I didn't want her to lap me,” he said. “Trying to keep up with her gave me my strongest time—10 seconds faster than last year.” Lavelle went on to capture first in the men's 55-59 age group and placed second in the overall standings.

Also sitting out was 1999 XTERRA World Triathlon winner and 1993 second place American finisher in the Women's Tour de France, Shari Kain. Four months pregnant with her second child, she recently went into retirement after 15 years, but not before a four-year stint on the U.S. national cycling team and a earning a gold medal in 1991 for the U. S. team at the Pan Am Games in Cuba. She plans to continue training along with her husband Pete, as the Kain Performance Team recently announced a partnership with AVAC to become the exclusive personal training and multi-sport coaching facility for its clients, where they focus on endurance and core strengthening exercises in an effort to provide clients with the highest level of training. Currently, Kain Performance coaches a team of 75 athletes, ranging from ages 13 to 65, who are all striving to improve efficiency in running, biking and swimming.

Sarah Martin was the women's top finisher and won the women's 25-29 age division with a time of 35:31:00

At the end of the day, one family claimed an overall victory as 40-year-old Soren Soe not only captured first place in the Men's 40-44 division, but later earned the top spot in the overall standings. He, along with wife Jeanette, watched as their two children, 8-year-old Nicholas and 6-year-old Sandra, placed in the top three in the children's division. “They've never done this before so it was very exciting to watch,” said their proud mom.