Team Wattie Ink: June 2015

West Region Report - Karin Langer (West Captain)

Tri-California Events’ iconic, independent event at Wildflower (Lake San Antonio, California, May 2-3) never disappoints, even/ESPECIALLY when drought conditions force course changes. The Wattie Ink. Team celebrated our finishes at the campsite with s’mores and sing-alongs with our generous sponsors, Diamondback Bikes.

Amy Van Tassel 1^st overall amateur female, Long Course

Chi-chi Jackson 24^th M55-59

Chris Liou 4^th M45-49

Derek Liou 4^th M40-44

Diane Jackson 1^st F60-65

Dusty Nabor 2^nd M40-44

Heather Catchpole 6^th F40-44

Keet Dailey 1^st overall, Olympic Distance Collegiate

Tom Monica 2^nd M55-59

Amy VT - Amateur Female Champ Wildflower

Keet Dailey - 1st OA and Collegiate Olympic Wildflower

Special thanks to team members Erin Machan, Doris Steere, Colleen Lundigran, and Sarah Beth Barkley, as well as other friends, who came out from as far away as FLORIDA to cheer, volunteer, and make a great weekend of it!

Held the same weekend as Wildflower, several Watties couldn’t resist the lure of Ironman 70.3 St. George, the North American Pro Championship.

Adam Harita 30^th M40-44

Eric Engel 1^st M25-29

Gerry Forman 2^nd M75-79

Jake Steen 48^th M40-44

Jaryna Moss 1^st F45-49

Micky McDonald 8^th M50-54

Nicole Pressprich 4^th F25-29

No one travels to Ironman Hawaii 70.3 (May 30) expecting anything but heat and humidity. The bike course overlaps the most challenging portion of the Ironman World Championship’s, and the run traverses an unforgivingly soggy and hot golf course. Watties teed up for a great, day, however.

Michael Larson 2^nd M45-49

Tawnie McDonald 5^th F50-54

Micky “William” McDonald 6^th M50-54

Hawaii resident James Resor shattered his front wheel during the bike leg, and waited about 45 minutes for support. He then waited for and ran with his bride and Wattie Ink bikini teammate, Sarah Nicola, carrying her across the finish line. It sure sounds like James is the ultimate SAG wagon! (127^th M30-34)

Central Region Report - Damie Roberts (Central Captain)

The central region once again dominated the podium. The big guns came out to play for the Ironman North American Championship series this month. On the soul searching course of St. George 70.3 North American Pro Championship, we had Katie Cargiulo in the pro women's race coming in as the 18th pro female as well as Jaryna Moss winning her AG and bringing home the 1st place in women's 45-49.
Next up found the Central Watties at Ironman Texas, the North American Ironman Championship ready to challenge the heat and the competition. Emily Kratz led the way as the Overall Amateur Champion for the female race as well as 1st 35-39 AG. Kevin Dessart won his division as well with a 1st place M45-49. Claudia Spooner rounded out the podium placings with a solid 5th in the W45-49.

Emily Kratz - Overall AG Champion Ironman Texas

North American Ironman Championships

Many Watties raced well at Raleigh 70.3, and Matt Barcus was on of those athletes with another solid race and 4th place finish in M30-34.
A little local racing rounded out the May month for the Central Region with Amanda Lane having a great weekend at Memphis in May with a 4th AG W25-29 in the sprint and a 2nd AG in the Oly, placing her 12th OA for that weekends Amateur Challenge.
Wattie Pro Dani Fischer mixed it up this month with a 13th OA female at Indy Mini Marathon (the largest half marathon in the nation) and a 1st F (4th OA) at Muncie May Triathlon.
Damie Roberts rounded out the local triathlon racing with a 1st F (4th OA) at the AIM High Sprint triathlon.
Congrats, Central Region, on another awesome month of racing!

East Region Report - Caldwell Clarke (East Captain)

All over the country, East Coast Wattie Ink. athletes posted some great podium results in the month of May.

Ironman Texas saw Oriana Bafunno finish 3^rd AG (25-29) and earn herself a trip to Kona!

On home turf, team director, Robert “Flanny” Flanigan was 2^nd OA at Rev3 Rush.

Evan Hill was 1st AG (35-39) at Challenge Knoxville OLY.

Denise “Biebs” Hiller finished a strong 2^nd AG at IM Raleigh 70.3 in some brutal conditions.

Denise HIller - 2nd AG Raleigh 70.3

Caldwell Clarke was 3^rd AG (35-39) at Monticellman OLY.

Taylor Jennings was 2nd Overall at the Outer Banks Duathlon and finished 3rd Overall at the Breezy Point Triathlon.

Joe Klinedinst finished 2^nd OA at the Cascade Lake Sprint Triathlon.

Maggie Freeman was 2nd OA Jersey Genesis Duathlon.

Thanks to all of our sponsors Wattie Ink, Herbalife 24, Powerbar, Blueseventy, Diamondback, Rudy Project, Reynolds, ISM, Speedfil, MarcPro, Wildflower, and Challenge Americas.

Off Road Report - Shelby Katz (Dirty Captain)

There is so much to say about our dirt loving Watties! What a May!

Early in the season Ron Schmidt, beer maker extraordinaire, found the dark side and entered the weekend events of XTERRA Epic, which is a weekend of some intense off road racing. The first race, which included a 25 mile bike ride, after a long swim, followed by a 10 mile run. While not feeling great after the long bike, Ron pulled through the run and placed 3^rd in his age group. The next days sprint went better and Ron ended up 5^th in his age group plus 15^th overall! This was enough for XTERRA to offer Ron an invitation to Nationals held in Ogden, Utah in September (an invite only race).

Tom Monica and Jake Steen, raced the XTERRA Bonelli Park in San Dimas, California, another XTERRA regional race. The race consisted of a ½ mile swim, a 15 mile bike plus a 3.4 mile run. Jake, who raced in the 40-44 age group took 4^th in his age group plus 14^th overall (this is out of 160 athletes). Tom, on a roll after gaining his XTERRA World’s Championship invitation, raced and took 1^st in his age group and tried to run down Jake, taking 15^th overall.

A quick note about Tom’s race in San Dimas. This was Tom’s 61^st XTERRA and his 37^th age-group win! 37 wins! Tom’s love of the dirt stems from many things, but when he talks about XTERRA, he talks about the intensity of the race. Not because it’s short, but you do need to go full gas the whole way, but because you can’t just put your head down and hammer. He says, you have to stay focused on the terrain (or you can get hurt), which makes it just as mental as it is physical. In San Dimas, Tom hammered the swim and was able to drop everyone pretty quickly in his group. He pulled a 12:03 swim for a 0.5 mile swim. Of course he fully credits his BlueSeventy Helix (and none of his hard core training routine). Taking the XTERRA approach in hand, which means hammer the hills and recover on the descents, he hammered the 15 mile bike, passing guys (younger) who started in earlier waves, 3-6 minutes ahead of him. Downing a Powerbar and getting in the Herbalife Prolong before finishing up the bike, Tom was ready for the run. During the run, Tom was catching up with Elizabeth Harita, our own Wattie “mascot”, who was racing the XTERRA Sport race. Adam Harita, Elizabeth’s dad, started cheering for Elizabeth telling her she shouldn’t let Tom pass her. Not cutting her any slack, Tom said he put in to move ahead, but Elizabeth held him off and they finished within feet of each other.

Racing a 50K on Catalina Island sounds epic. Especially when most of the trails that are normally closed to the public are opened for this race. Erin Machan smashed the race, ripping up the trails and really enjoying her time out there, putting in the hours she will need for the Leadville 100! Really stoked to hear more about Erin’s mountain biking!

And finally, the XTERRA Laguna was blown up by Jake Steen and Tom Monica! Tom took 2^nd again in his age group and Jake also scored a 2^nd place in his age group!!

Our dirt folks are tearing it up and taking names!!