June 17, 2004

S.J. International Triathlon viewed as one of the top triathlons in the world

Lees and Gallo dominate event at Almaden Lake Park

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

For 10 years in a row, Almaden native Dave Rummell has participated in the annual San Jose International Triathlon.

This past weekend, he donned his black wetsuit and tight swim cap and psyched himself up for the race, which drew a total of 1,650 triathletes and about 5,000 spectators to Almaden Lake Park on Sunday.

“It’s fun to set a goal and meet it. It gives you a good feeling,” said Rummell while eyeing the sea of heads bobbing in and out of the shallow lake water. “I like to have something other than just a run, or just the bike, or just the swim. We do all three. It’s a good measure of fitness.”

The 54-year-old man stood on the sand of the crowded lake beach while many competitors massaged each other, sipped on sports drinks and water, swallowed power gels and enjoyed the cold, sunny morning. As soon as the gun went off for his age division, he was out in the water. He finished the race in 3:11:49.

Spicing up the event was Australian triathlon legend Marc Lees, who flew to San Jose from San Diego—his training ground—to dominate the event. He crossed the finish line in 1:52:48 to claim the event title. He was followed by Ted Simpkins and Michael Ingardia, who came in second and third place, respectively, after finishing the 1.25-kilometer swim, the 40-kilometer bike ride and the 10-kilometer run.

The 32-year-old Lees has been competing in triathlons for more than a decade. In 1992 he went pro. He made Australia’s World Championship team soon after. In 2000, he was the Australian National Series Champion and was named Australian Triathlete of the Year. A year later he was crowned the Pan American triathlon champion.

“I feel pretty great,” said the tall, thin Lees with his Australian accent. “I wanted to have a really good hit on the bike because I knew it was a fast course,” he added, wiping the sweat off his face with a towel. “It’s a great race and it’s a great venue. I knew I had a strong bike going today and I pushed it hard and got the lead about five miles in and just extended it.”

The Zoot Sports company was the race’s major sponsor. “They (Zoot) asked me to come up and race,” he said, adding that he now owns a professional Wells Fargo Bank triathlon team made up of six athletes.

Women’s winner Linda Gallo, 27, of Sunnyvale, was the second individual competitor across the line, finishing in 2:04:34 to stake her claims.

The local powerhouse, who’s been named by USA Triathlon as an eighth group triathlete, felt good about supporting the local triathlon. “It’s an awesome race,” she said. “My goal was to hammer the bike and I did that ahead of Erin McCarty, who’s a fantastic biker.” Gallo was the first age group finisher at Ironman Hawaii in 2003 and was the overall winner at the USAT World’s Qualifier in Menomonie, Wis. Gallo finished fifth in her age group at the 2003 International Triathlon Union (ITU) Triathlon World Championships in New Zealand. Erin McCarty, of Los Gatos, took second place; and Holly Nybo, of Portola Valley, took third place.

The 41-year-old Nybo, returning to the SJIT after participating in 1998 before having two children, said she felt better despite being sick for three weeks and losing her childcare. “I figured I would come out and have fun and see what I could do. I figured I would either have a good workout or actually have a decent race.”

The Sunday event began in waves or groups of triathletes, from elites, to collegiates, to athletes in different age categories in four-minute intervals.

Los Angeles resident Tamara Tamburro, 46, accompanied by her husband, returned this year because of her positive experience five years ago at the event. Her goal was to break three hours, a feat she had not yet accomplished in the international triathlon distance. Her time was 2:53:17. “I don’t mind leaving my two children and making the travel because it’s a first-class event,” said the lanky tall woman before the race began. “This helps me to stay in shape, stay motivated and have fun.”

Similarly, Keith Glidewell, 27, was lured by the event because it’s considered one of the premier triathlons in the country. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to do,” said the tan Bishop, Calif.-native. “I’m shooting for top 10 in my age group, but I’m in a competitive field.”

Also on hand were Campbell residents Tim and Heidi Schenone, owners of The Running Revolution store. “It’s our first time and we’re stoked,” said the 38-year-old Tim while stretching his wife’s arms before the first leg of the competition. “We’re good runners and bikers so we figured we should get ourselves out on the water. We’re affiliated with a ton of triathletes so we had to experience it and be a part of it if you’re talking the talk and selling the gear.

“Triathletes are overtaking running. Everyone has been running for so long that they’re looking for something else to challenge them and this is the next step,” said Tim.

Cupertino resident Pete Kain, head coach of Kain Performance Multi-Sport, based out of the Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC), did not participate in the event.

For several years now the event has featured the San Jose Mountain Bike Sprint Triathlon. About 400 athletes participated in the Saturday event beginning at 8 a.m., with a 500-yard swim, a 10-mile mountain bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. The winner of the event was Anthony Pelosi crossing the finish line in 1:01:52. John Moss and Troy Barba took second and third place.

Volunteers
Gene Rafanelli, who’s lived in Almaden Valley since April of 1994, has been volunteering for the SJIT every year since 1995 bringing junior ROTC cadets to work at fluid and first aid stations, and helping with race set up and clean up duties “without the sweat,” quipped an enthusiastic junior ROTC student from San Jose’s Andrew Hill High School.

The 63-year-old Rafanelli said his students work at all events presented by the Meadow Vista-based J&A Productions, owner of the event. J&A is the state’s premier endurance event promotions company, producing more than 20 events annually and specializing in triathlons. Their flagship event is the SJIT, believed to be the third largest Olympic distance triathlon in the world.

“This triathlon is great because of the caliber of the athletes who come from all around the world,” Rafanelli said. “It’s a great spectator event.”

To a large extent, many event organizers said, the triathlon is somewhat invisible to the Almaden Valley community. “They drive by and see a large gathering of people here, but they don’t realize its importance because it doesn’t get the coverage it deserves,” noted Rafanelli. “It’s a specialized group that’s insulated from the community.”

J&A Productions owner Andy Robles said the event brought between $1.4 and $2 million in revenues for the city of San Jose.