Media Release

May 11, 2003

ST KITTS TRIATHLON - MAY 11 – RECORDS FALL AS WILLIAMS AND DOCHERTY ARE HOT IN THE CARIBBEAN

11 May 2003, Frigate Bay, St Kitts, W.I. – It was another beautiful day in the Caribbean Paradise Island of St Kitts with the seventh annual Mother’s day triathlon set to start at high noon. With a strong field of 21 Elite Males and 11 Elite Females, the race was sure to be exciting in this challenging Olympic distance race. The top seeds for the race were Bevan Docherty NZ, Olivier Marceau SUI, and Doug Friman USA and for the women Americans Susan Williams, Amanda Pagon, and Jessi Stensland rounding up the top three seeds.

The horn sounded at 12:00 noon with the men’s field starting first. The swim was a two lap, 750 M triangular course in the Caribbean ocean with a water temperature of 76 Degrees F. The race was for the first buoy and once they reached it, the field began to space out evenly through the rest of the swim. With a strong swim, it was American Doug Friman coming out of the water first in just under 18 minutes with Bevan Docherty of NZ just seconds behind. A minute later the bulk of the field followed with Eugenio Chimal of Mexico leading and Americans James Duff and Christoph O’Donnell and SUI Oliver Marceau right on their heels. As the men transitioned to the bike portion of the race, Docherty and Friman stretched their minute lead on the pack by working together on the first climb. What makes this race challenging is the eight tough climbs that the triathletes face as it becomes not only a question of fitness but of mental strength to get you through the grueling two lap course. But today, they also had to face a strong Atlantic wind and a hot Caribbean sun. Docherty and Friman increased their pace and with four hills in hand Marceau and O’Donnell were the only two riders in contention as the hills started to punish the field. With one climb left to go, Docherty decided to make a break from Friman and with a fast descend rode into transition with a fifteen second lead on the American. The hills had taken their toll on Marceau and O’Donnell as they started the run course four and a half minutes behind the leaders. The run was a hilly 5 K two lap course through Frigate Bay and the Frigate Bay Golf course. With a lead on the run and a hard pace set on the bike, it was Docherty’s race to lose, and after finishing first last weekend in Claremont, he wanted to keep his winning streak going and pushed the run pace even harder. Friman kept up with Docherty as long as he could but was starting to run out of time and finally coming into the last two kilometers, Docherty saw his opportunity and pushed as hard as he could to the finish. Docherty maintained the fast pace he had set on the run and crossed the finish line 40 seconds ahead of Freiman. Oliver Marceau had spent most of the race with Christoph O’Donnell on his side but managed to cross the finish line in third place 15 seconds ahead of O’Donnell but over 5 minutes behind the new course record set by Docherty. “I was pleased with my bike today and had the legs to push the run” said Docherty after his triumph.

The women’s race started at 12:05 and the pack was evenly spaced through the first lap but into the second lap, it was the three top seeds who started to take a lead on the swim portion of the race. Americans Susan Williams, Amanda Pagon and Jessie Stensland were the first out of the water and came into transition together with Isabelle Gagnon CAN and Candy Angle USA falling a minute behind. It was still anyone’s race as they headed to the first climb but with only a weeks rest after her triumph in St Croix, Susan Williams took charge of the bike course. Williams rode well and felt comfortable on the bike and started to gain time on Jessie Stensland who was currently in second while Isabelle Gagnon of Canada took over third position. Out of the bike transition and into the run course, Williams had over a five minute lead on Stensland and Gagnon who starting the run together with Alexis Waddel and Amanda Pagon two minutes behind them. Williams kept her strong pace on the run through the rolling hills but by now Stensland started to feel the effects of the bike course and Gagnon ceased the opportunity to push the pace. Heading back into the palm tree finish it was Susan Williams’ day to shine with a record setting performance for the St Kitts course followed by Isabelle Gagnon CAN who moved into second and Alexis Waddel in third after the second best run of the day. After the race Williams commented that this course was suited to her style by being able to attack the hills and after her record breaking performance who are we to argue with that.

Happy Mothers Day to All and see you next year….

Cheers

Charles Lovrics

Race Director

St Kitts Triathlon Association

ELITE FEMALE OLYMPIC DISTANCE

Place LAST FIRST NAME SWIM BIKE RUN TIME

1 Williams Susan USA 00:19:37 01:24:30 00:42:29 02:26:35

2 Gagnon Isabelle CAN 00:20:31 01:28:56 00:44:29 02:33:56

3 Waddel Alexis USA 00:22:16 01:29:32 00:42:38 02:34:26

4 Stensland Jessi USA 00:19:37 01:29:48 00:46:33 02:35:58

5 Pagon Amanda USA 00:19:37 01:32:20 00:44:26 02:36:24

ELITE MALE OLYMPIC DISTANCE

Place LAST FIRST NAME SWIM BIKE RUN TIME

1 Docherty Bevan NZL     00:17:59 01:14:28 00:35:42 02:08:09

2 Friman Doug USA 00:17:57 01:14:45 00:36:07 02:08:49

3 Marceau Olivier SUI 00:19:20 01:17:32 00:36:29 02:13:21

4 O’Donnell Christoph USA 00:19:15 01:17:35 00:36:46 02:13:36

5 Perg Stefan AUS 00:19:17 01:18:49 00:37:37 02:15:43