Matt Reed and Julie Ertel ran to a strong finish to win the Elite category of the 2008 US Triathlon National Championships in Hagg, Lake Oregon.
Both Reed and Ertel were repeat winners of the event with Reed winning the championships in 2004 and Ertel depending her 2007 title.
According to USAT:
"Just 17 women were on the start list, but it was a star- studded field.
Olympians Sarah Haskins and Ertel led the competitors out of the water,
with current U.S. No. 1 Sarah Groff, and two-time U23 Worlds silver
medalist Jasmine Oeinck close behind. Former junior national champion
Jennifer Spieldenner was also in that front group, with Olympian Laura
Bennett, Olympic team alternate Becky Lavelle, and Mary Beth Ellis forming the chase pack, 30 seconds behind.
The age group triathletes had decent conditions for their race according to USAT.
"The first of 17 waves jumped into Hagg Lake at 7:15 a.m. and the
action didn’t stop all day. The weather was ideal for endurance sports
with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to low 60s with cloudy skies
and little to no wind. Jason Schott, 37, of Dahlonega, Ga., was the
overall male winner with a time of 1:54:08. Brooke Davison, 37, of
Boulder, Colo., finished in 2:05:52 to win the women’s overall
championship.
The athletes soaked up the atmosphere in the
post-race zone and later in the expo tent for vendor presentations and
contests, the awards ceremony and the post-race dinner.
The
event, USA Triathlon’s version of the “Super Bowl,” attracted athletes
from 45 states ranging in age from 18 to 78. Many of these athletes
have trained all season in preparation for the event, some hoping to
earn a spot on Team USA by finishing in the top 16 in their age group."
You can read all about the race action HERE.
Of special interest to many age-group athletes, Sister Madonna Buder once again defended her age group title.
Age-Group Winners
Men’s overall
1. Jason Schott 1:54:08
2. Adam Webber 1:54:58
3. Nathan White 1:56:03
Women’s overall
1. Brooke Davison 2:05:52
2. Cathy Yndestad 2:09:37
3. Stacey Richardson 2:09:51
Age Group Winners
F19 Under: Kelsey Markham (Collierville, Tenn.)
M19 Under: Eric Lagerstrom (Gresham, Ore.)
F20-24: Chris Tommerdahl (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
M20-24: Brian Duffy, Jr. (West Chester, Pa.)
F25-29: Lindsey Whalen (Chicago, Ill.)
M25-29: Adam Webber (Denver, Pa.)
F30-34: Cathy Yndestad (St. Paul, Minn.)
M30-34: Mark Harms (Madison, Wis.)
F35-39: Brooke Davison (Boulder, Colo.)
M35-39: Jason Schott (Dahlonega, Ga.)
F40-44: Steph Popelar (Parker, Colo.)
M40-44: Doug Clark (Morristown, N.J.)
F45-49: Judyann Cummings (Denver, Colo.)
M45-49: Pete Kain (Cupertino, Calif.)
F50-54: Kelly Molaski (Bellingham, Wash.)
M50-54: Steve Pyle (Boulder, Colo.)
F55-59: Karen McKeachie (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
M55-59: Dean Harper (Walnut Creek, Calif.)
F60-64: Lauren Binder (Portland, Ore.)
M60-64: Steven Smith (Granger, Ind.)
F65-69: Elizabeth Brackett (Chicago, Ill.)
M65-69: Robert Plant (Woodside, Calif.)
F70-74: Jan Miller (Green Valley, Ariz.)
M70-74: Jon Adamson (Alpharetta, Ga.)
F75-79: Madonna Buder (Spokane, Wash.)