SPORTS

Almaden resident trains for USA Duathlon Team world championships

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor


Steve Teets does more than just set goals, he has the confidence to set them high and reach them. He recently reserved a spot on the National Duathlon Team, which will be competing against other countries in Denmark on July 31.

Duathlon races pair running and biking. Usually, a run/bike/run formats. They can range from a 5K run/30K bike/5K run (short course) to a 10K run/60K bike/10K run (long course). Teets usually participates in the long course.

“I’ve been a runner ever since I was in high school. I’ve done several marathons and some ultra marathons. Then a couple of years ago I had a knee injury and my therapist put me on a biking program. I liked it so much that I wanted to find something that paired the two,” says Teets.

He began competing in local duathlons, and then moved on to more competitive races. “I have a very competitive spirit and I wanted to see how far I could take it,” he says. Teets did some research and found that USA Triathlon sponsors the USA Duathlon Team. They sponsor several races around the country where duathletes can qualify for the world race.

“I thought, ‘Qualifying for the national team, that would be pretty neat. That’s a goal for myself,” says Teets. Last year in Nashville, Tenn., he qualified in his age group to compete in Denmark, which will be a 40K run/120K bike/10K run.

Teets, who competes in the 45-49 age group, knows he needs to be prepared. He trains by running and biking through Almaden, usually in Quicksilver and Jeffrey Fontana Park. “Most people in Almaden have probably passed me multiple times,” says Teets, who bikes about 100-150 miles each week and runs about 25-40 miles each week. “I’ll pick a race here and there to sharpen my skills and see where I stand,” he says.

His last duathlon was in Oregon, where he placed first in his age division. “The race in Oregon was a big confidence builder for me. My goal for Denmark is to be the top American in my division. Overall, I want to finish in the top 10,” says Teets.

Teets says that biking has added an interesting component to his training. “With alternating running and cycling, I feel fresh every day. Running started catching up to me.” Teets suffered from severe patellar tendonitis two years ago.

Duathlons became popular in the 1980s, but declined after big sponsors like Coors Lite, who produced series that had thousands of participants, faded out of the picture. The race, which does not involve swimming, is popular for people like Teets who don’t come from a swimming background. The duathlon offers opportunities for world-class athletes to compete at the world-class level.

Dualthletes fund their own airfare and lodgings at the world championships. Teets says, “USA Triathlon really steers us in the right direction in that matter. They make it as simple as possible.”

One must be knowledgeable competing in races so grueling on the body. “I didn’t get into this sort of thing without doing my homework. I have been running competitively for 25 years now. There’s a lot of danger involved as far as hydration is involved. You could do some damage out there,” says Teets. He goes for bike rides that are five or six hours long, while his runs are 13-15 miles.

“My determination and drive really comes from my childhood. I always wanted to be the best I could be and use to the best of my ability my God-given talents.”

Teets names Steve Prefontaine, an All-American distance runner for the University of Oregon in the 70s and Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong as inspiring figures. Prefontaine inspired Teets to keep on running, “which got me to the Boston Marathon.” Teets ran in the Boston Marathon three times.

Originally from Minnesota, Teets moved to San Jose in 1976. He has lived in the Almaden Valley for 18 years with his wife Karen, and works in the engineering department at Comcast.

For more information about Duathlons, visit www.triathlon.org.

Local Cabana Club League makes waves
Almaden Dolphins grab inside track early

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The south San Jose Cabana Club League surges ahead, navigating the mid-season stretch of its 2004 summer campaign. And for five other cabanas, time is running short with the Almaden Dolphins swimming toward its first undefeated season in several years.

Currently, the Dolphins sit alone in first place with one meet remaining before all six clubs face off in the July 17 Champs Meet, held this year at Saratoga High School. The Dolphins, perennial contenders since the league’s conception during the 70s, are certain that their performance thus far is no fluke, that “they’re back” and that everybody else better hold on—Dolphins never forget.

Last year, the championship trophy fell to Creekside, during what many felt was a down year for the Dolphins. “No excuses,” explained Patti Gahagan, Almaden’s co-swimming coordinator. “Creekside won. But we had some extenuating circumstances. We missed out on a lot of practice time.” In 2003, the Almaden pools’ heating elements failed, leaving the water ice cold, unacceptable conditions for the nearly 200 members on the swim team. The Dolphins were forced to bypass practicing early in the season, leaving them out of condition in competition and runners-up as a result.

“We have a great team this year,” added Jen Eisenberg, the Dolphins additional swimming coordinator. “We think we have a good chance to take back that trophy, but it all depends. We have the tradition.”

The Cabana League Champs trophy has spent most of its conscious life in Almaden, which serves as summer recreational facility to those residents living in the subdivision, known as Almaden Park or Shadowbrook II. And according to Dolphin faithful, the swim teams’ success is no surprise, given the community values.

“Our first goal for the team is always to have fun,” said Eisenberg. “The kids who swim here have formed
friendships that last through the years. The kids will tell you that they can’t imagine not being a part of this team.”

Dolphin diplomacy mainly consists of reaching out to others.

“Socially, the swim team is a big thing for the kids in our neighborhood,” continued Eisenberg. “Being a part of the swim team helps the kids foster a healthy attitude about competition and meeting others. We like to win, but we stress individual improvement above all.”

The cabana club hosts many events designed to facilitate social development between team members and families. In addition to weekly Wednesday night barbecues held throughout the summer, the Dolphins plan Camp Cabanawahoo & Talent Show, a yearly sleepover, catering exclusively to teammates, the Camp Cocoa Cabana social, held yearly with cross-town rival Shadowbrook I, and a spaghetti feed and pep rally, heading into Champs.

The Dolphins also implement oft entertaining, assimilation practices, matching older, more experienced swimmers with the younger kids. According to Eisenberg, it’s not uncommon to witness the older kids helping younger kids dress, line up to race and even find snacks.

“I think a real tribute to what a great team we have is the large number of older swimmers we have every year,” said Gahagan. “These are kids who often started swimming when they were just 5 or 6 years old and keep coming back year after year. Being a part of the Dolphins is more than just swimming which is why these kids continue to come back each year.”

Bellarmine College Preparatory graduate Justin Pollard returns this year for a final season with the Dolphins before heading off to U.C. Berkeley next fall. Pollard, who maintains an intense year round training, accepted a scholarship to swim for the Golden Bears.

“He [Pollard] is definitely our current superstar,” said Eisenberg. “He is a real inspiration to many of our younger swimmers and enjoys assisting with coaching the team. We are very proud of this talented and poised young man.”

In addition to Pollard, Dolphins Kelsey Nolan, Nicole Rottjakob, Simone Spenner, Erika Eisenberg, Amanda Griffeth, Taylor Rottjakob and Kevin Cance have turned in solid performances this year.

Summed 12-year old freestyle specialist Erika Eisenberg: ‘I love swimming for the Dolphins.”

Next up for Almaden is a July 10 meet at Santa Teresa; then on to the Champs.

Summer means hard work for Leland girls basketball

By Miranda Shultz
Sports Editor

The Leland varsity girls basketball team is getting geared up for next year by playing in the Oak Grove varsity summer basketball league. The girls are 2-0 so far, beating Pioneer last week and Presentation’s JV team, 31-29, in sudden death overtime earlier this week. Four players were absent against Presentation, two starters and two key reserves, according to Head Coach Wade Nakamura.

“The wins and losses really don’t matter,” says Nakamura. “Of course everyone wants to win but it’s really about developing the girls and giving them experience and preparing them for next season,” he says.

The team already played in two tournaments, but need the experience, as they will be a young squad again this year with only two seniors. Last year, the girls had only two seniors and won the Mt. Hamilton Division with an 11-1 record. They finished 20-6, losing in the quarterfinals of the CCS tournament.

“So far this summer, we’ve played a lot of really athletic teams and held our own. We’re still going to be a really young team, but we’re a year older than last year,” says Nakamura.

The lady Chargers will compete in 10 summer league games, as well as weekend tournaments. They have played about 14 games in tournament play so far, and they also play in a spring league.

“Our program at Leland is pretty much year round so it’s really contributed to our success. We don’t always get the best players, so we have to work harder to compete. Providing the girls the opportunity to improve and compete against these teams is our number one priority,” says Nakamura.

He also noted that they’re focusing really hard on the reserve players. “We have a good core group,” says Nakamura of their four returning starters.

Almaden’s Earle Baker recycled as racer, gains on former status quo

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

He took 15 years off to concentrate on family and career, but Earle Baker has found that there is something valuable to be gained from personal priorities, like bearing down on the road of rejuvenation as a cycle-racing warrior.

As a Category 3 racer in the early 1980s, Baker placed third in the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club’s Cat’s Hill Criterium and in the top 10 of the Napa Valley Cherry Pie Road Race.

Starting all over again in 2004 at the beginner level (Category 5), Baker, now 44, quickly proved his racing heart is of a quality alloy. After placing seventh out of 30 in the ST Bikes Memorial Day Criterium held in Morgan Hill, he received his promotion to Category 4.

Baker says he likes competing, especially as an individual. “It’s all about you; it’s all about me; there no one who can help,” he said. “The more I train and the harder I train, the better I get.”

He figures he rides about 175-200 miles a week. Last Sunday he pumped out a 62-mile workout, burning about 2,000 calories.

The net result after nine months of being back in the saddle: a loss of 32 pounds, and the motivation to regain the Category 3 status he had nearly two decades ago.

Baker, now checking in at 5-foot-10, 178 pounds, is a construction supervisor by trade, so he doesn’t want to overestimate his racing potential. He notes that the sports takes mental toughness and can involve pain, agony, stress and fear, especially when racing shoulder to shoulder at high speed with a mass of riders with barely an ounce of rubber touching the ground.

Still, Baker points out that there are many riders years older than him making their mark in racing far up the category chart while exercising their own brand of hard-core cycling as a cutting-edge life-style.

Up next for Baker and his fellow San Jose Bike Club racers are the Watsonville Criterium on July 17, and the Monte Vista Criterium to be held in the Evergreen/ Silver Creek area of San Jose on July 31. For more information on the San Jose Bike Club, log on at www.teamsan jose.org; for more information or the Northern California and Nevada Cycling Association visit www.ncnca.org.