Watch this page for the latest updates from our athletes.

Athlete Updates

2006

Sam Burley — July 13, 2006:

Training is going well. …

Training is going well. I've been able to string together about eight really solid weeks.

I've had two races in the last few weeks. The first was the Penn Relays mile, 4:06 for third. It went out really slow and when the leaders made a big move they gapped me a little bit. It was a good field and an event that will take a few more attempts before I am comfortable. My splits, incidentally were ~68.3, 60.3, 57.3, 58.3 so that last 1200 was good. I also ran last weekend at the George Mason invite. I won (149.6) on a windy day.

I have two pretty big races in the next few weeks that should, I think, show that I am in shape. On the 21st I am running at the Adidas Classic in California and on June 3 at the Reebok Games in NYC. They should both be on TV and they should both have just about every good American 800 meter runner, and a few good foreigners.

April 4, 2006:

I am still down in Washington…

I am still down in Washington DC training under Juli Henner. After indoors I took a week down and am now doing a lot of strength work to prepare for a (hopefully) long outdoor season. Overall I think indoor went well. I would have liked to have made the world indoor team but a new PR and my highest nationals finish were steps in the right direction. I'm going to be running a few meets between now the end of April (I am tentatively planning on running the Raleigh Relays and the Penn Invite), but mostly just training. My first big weekend should be the Penn/Drake Relays.

Lindsay Campbell — April 4, 2006:

Right now we are right in…

Right now we are right in the middle of our competitive season. I am in Rome, having just competed in the Rome World Cup on 3/17. I'll be training in Paris with Maya Lawrence for the upcoming week, and then competing in the Luxembourg World Cup on 3/24. Then I'll have a little under a month before the final North American Circuit in mid-April in Sacramento, California. Right now I'm ranked in the top 8 in the US (as our rankings fluctuate a lot throughout the season), and I need a strong result soon to put myself back in the top 4. If I can do that, I'll finish off the year with four more Grand Prix tournaments in May/June. I'm still working hard on physical therapy and have added Pilates to my workout regime which I love! This should help to strengthen my core in a way that wont be too stressful on my shoulder yet.

I'm happy to report that I got some international points after my recent top-64 result in Luxembourg, so my US ranking has bounced back to 5th after my disappointments early this season. I still have several tournaments to get back in the top 4 where I want to be.

January 9, 2006:

I just had my first tournament…

I just had my first tournament of the season in December. It was the North American Cup in Pittsburgh, PA and I finished in the top 16. This is something of a disappointing result for me, but given the conditions I was facing I'm not too upset. The day before the tournament I spent 11 hours in Logan airport in a huge snowstorm, only to arrive at my hotel at 2:30am to wake up at 5:45am and compete. This was a new experience for me in competing on just three hours of sleep, and let me tell you it is not pleasant!

Despite this, I went into "energy conservation mode" and actually fenced very well in the preliminary round, coming out seeded first! Somehow being tired must have calmed my normal jitters in that first round, which was great. Then in the second round I hit some bumps in the road and *barely* advanced to the next round of the double elimination tableau with a low seed. Then, I won my first bout 15-14 (a close one) and then drew… Maya. [ed. note: Maya is another athlete on the U.S. Athletic Trust's roster and a teammate of Lindsay at both Princeton and on the U.S. level.] Maya and I have not fenced in a national tournament in years. It was a great bout and Maya won by one touch in overtime with 13 seconds left. This is what happens when teammates fence each other. I won my next bout in the "repechage" bracket quite easily and then won my fourth bout 15-14. At this point I had already had four 15 touch bouts, three of which were won or lost by one touch. That is draining even on a fully rested body. I fell in my next bout to a New York Fencers Club teammate. It was a tough loss but I was so physically beat that I didn't take it too hard.

Since then, I've been doing a lot of physical therapy. I began seeing the trainers at MIT for tendonitis in my left achilles in November. It comes from the strange, on-your-toes fencing stance that is very tough on your back calf/ankle. Soon after I developed pain in my right shoulder, which turned out to also be inflamed tendons. I saw a great PT and have a whole new program of strengthening and stretching. I've never had a chronic injury like this before, but I'm learning to be disciplined with ice, aleve, stretching, and strengthening. Doing just this has brought the heel under control but the shoulder remains an issue. I plan to beat this and just get stronger, but it will take some time. After taking a two week break to try and recover some and rest, I am back at fencing, spending this month off from grad school in NYC training with my coach at my club. I'm also doing yoga and once my shoulder is strengthened some more I plan on switching to pilates. I need to strengthen my core abdomen and upper back to help deal with this and prevent future injuries. Fencing is a strange, asymmetrical sport and I've known for some time that I need to balance myself out, the pain is just an unfortunate warning reminder.

My next tournament is the second North American Cup the weekend after this in Houston, TX. I'm excited to compete and know that even with my shoulder like this, I have the skills and capability to achieve my goals if I fence my best. However, because I do not want to push myself, I have withdrawn from the first world cup that I was signed up for in Prague on January 28-29. There are many world cups throughout the season, and I do not need to push myself to do this one. I'm still hoping to compete in the Grand Prix in St. Maur, France on Feb 3,4,5 because this world cup has both individual and team, which is very important for me. A new women's epee national coach is currently being chosen, and I plan to meet with him in Houston to discuss my tournament planning for this year and the next two years. After I've done that I can send you more tournament info.

So as you can tell there has been a lot of flux for me in the New Year, but I'm managing it all, enjoying the time I have off from school to focus on fencing and rehab. I hope that the season only looks up from here.

Brian Chaput — May 9, 2006:

I wanted to update you on…

I wanted to update you on a few recent developments. Training has been going GREAT and I have been cleared by my surgeon to compete on June 25th at US Nationals. I have thrown well in training and am confident that I will be able to contend for a championship. A recent groin strain has put me back a bit, and I'll continue to nurse that and the elbow to full health in the next month. I plan to open my season at USAs, as I am pre-qualified from last year's mark. As always – thank you and the USAT for your continued support throughout the year. I look forward to representing the Trust as soon as physically possible.

April 4, 2006:

I continue to train in Philadelphia,…

I continue to train in Philadelphia, PA under coach John Taylor. The past few months have been very promising, with great progression in my rehabilitation from UCL (elbow) reconstruction in June 2005. About a month back I was cleared to begin throwing men's javelins (800g) and the distances are steadily increasing with minimal pain to the joint. Just last week I had two separate sessions that included throws of 220' or greater, at relatively minimal effort. Things are coming along smoothly, and my surgeon, rehab specialists, and I anticipate a full recovery for the USA Championships in June 2006. Over the next few months, I will continue to work on technique while increasing throwing and training intensity toward full-recovery.

Susan Francia — July 13, 2006:

I recently returned from…

I recently returned from the first of three World Cup stops in Munich. The goal was to get good racing experience, as this was my first international race in a small sculling boat. My personal goal was to get into the A- Final (top 6) and if possible, medal. The competition was tough with a record number of entries, 15. Our 3 races of heats, semis and final were a great stepping stone and we improved on our racing strategy on each one. Though we did not make it to the A Final, we raced a fantastic race in our B Final and finished second.

Germany was a blast though. We had a chance to walk around in Munich, visit some museums, and eat some bratwurst. Next stop is England to race in the Royal Henley Regatta and the third stop of the World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland!

May 9, 2006:

The spring racing season…

The spring racing season is in full effect and fortunately with very good results! After switching from sweep rowing (one oar) to sculling (2 oars) in San Diego, I have been rowing the double with my teammate Brett Sickler. I decided to forego the first national selection regatta (in which the single scull was selected to the US team) to focus on the double. In the second National Selection Regatta, the women's pair and double were contested for US representation at the 2006 World Championships to be held in Eton, England. After 3 tough days of racing --including a time trial, heats, semis and finals -- Brett and I won the right to represent the US! Though I was a nervous wreck before the race, and indeed the competition was tough, we won by about 4 seconds. This means that we will be going to Munich in 2 weeks to race at the first World Cup. Depending on our results from that, we may go on to compete again at the next World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland in June. For right now, we are in Princeton fine-tuning our technique and maintaining our fitness, getting ready to take on the even stronger competition in Germany!

April 4, 2006:

I am still on track for the…

I am still on track for the Olympics, and, fortunately, I am injury free. I don't have any recent racing results to give you, unless you want to post my newest ergometer scores which I can proudly say may currently be top 3 fastest in the country. My 2k at the end of February was a 6:36 and my 6k was a 21:05. We just got back to NJ so I am trying to adjust quickly for the upcoming selection regattas. It's not near as nice as it was in California *sigh* but it's good to be back. Oh and I met some of the other athletic trust athletes (Ty and Tora) and we all rocked our gear. In fact I wore my red jacket out a lot.

January 11, 2006:

To the novice eye, the winter…

To the novice eye, the winter season in rowing seems the most low key and uneventful. However, this period is one of the most important for improving physical fitness and strength. Though the rivers and lakes are frozen over, rowers are hard at work inside on the indoor rowing machine, or erg. Here in Princeton, NJ, the situation is not much different. Every day as we head towards the erg room, we look gloomily out on the frozen lake and hope that it will soon thaw. Hope is not lost though, as soon we will head to the Olympic Training Center in San Diego for 2 months from February to the end of March. In April we will be back in New Jersey for the first National Selection Regatta on the 28^th. Until then, we will be seat racing to see the fastest combinations in the pairs (sweep rowing) and doubles (sculling). The team is very much looking forward to warm weather out west so that we can finally get on the water, not to mention delight in the wonderful meals served at the Olympic Training Center. While I'm out there, I want to learn how to surf… though we'll see what Coach says about that. Sunny San Diego, here we come!

Bryon Friedman — July 13, 2006:

I have more good news! After…

I have more good news! After a long recovery I am finally back skiing with the National Team and just returned to Santa Barbara from my first ski camp in Mammoth. Throughout the camp my primary focus was on free skiing while working on balance and technique, which both felt great. My coaches are surprised with the progress I have made since my last surgery and I hope to return to the World Cup this season!

I plan to ski in Mammoth again in June, as well as New Zealand and Chile in August and September. Off the hill I have been working out with a great trainer and enjoying the surf around Santa Barbara. It's great to feel like an athlete again and I look forward to enjoying the Summer!

April 4, 2006:

I have good news! Upon return…

I have good news! Upon return from my trip to the Olympics and Ghana my surgeon gave me full clearance to ski....and ski hard! I have been on snow for the past two weeks and it gets better each day. I am scheduled to return to U.S. Ski Team camps this May and will train in New Zealand and Chile in August/September. As for competition it's still up in the air, but if I keep making the same progress I should be ready for the World Cup season, which starts in November.

As for training, I intend to live and workout in Santa Barbara for the next 5 months. I have a great team there to help me get back to world class shape, and it's only a 5.5 hour drive to Mammoth so I can ski in between tough conditioning blocks.

Zoila Gomez — July 13, 2006:

First of all, I would like…

First of all, I would like to thank the U.S. Athletic Trust for all of their support. Since my last update, which was dated April 18th, I have had the opportunity to work with numerous people within my community. I completed a number of speaking engagements for both college and high school students, ran as a torch bearer for the Special Olympians, and have taught ESL classes to immigrants. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet with my former high school coach, John Carney, shortly after I got back from Kansas.


Public Speaking

I have very mixed feelings when speaking to young people about my life and struggles as a professional athlete. On the one hand, I get the chills. I feel that each time I speak in public I have the opportunity to touch someoneﾒs heart and possibly change their attitude regarding certain aspects of life. When I speak to a group of people I want to motivate them to succeed, to achieve their potential, and to never look back. My speaking responsibilities also serve to motivate me. By encouraging others, I, too, am encouraged to keep going and not give up, regardless of the hardships or difficulties I face.


Torch Bearer

My coach (Damon Martin) truly believes in helping out the community. I was extremely happy when he asked me if I would like to help the Special Olympics Commitee transfer the Olympic torch from Alamosa to the county line (a distance of approximately 14 miles). I had a blast. I was escorted by police officers and an ambulance. The entire experience was wonderful. I knew I was a part of a very meaningful and exciting event. I was representing the Special Olympic Athletes in the town that has adopted me for the past five years.


ESL Teacher

I am back teaching ESL classes. I teach the basic level. Classes started June 12, and will continue until August 3rd. I am so excited about my class. As of right now, I have 10 students, Jaime, Ricardo,Miguel,Fidencia, Janet, Jesus, Elias, Eduardo, Bernardo and Luis. They are very excited and motivated about learning English, and I am very inspired and honored by their initiative and by the opportunity to be their instructor.


My Former High School Coach

Thanks Coach Carney (my very first coach) for sharing such a wonderful time with me. Thank you for your motivational talks, and thank you for keeping me in line in the area of push ups and sit ups... Yes, I have realized that a great coach is always going to be a coach, even when an athlete is no longer an official Costa Mesa High School team member.


Training and Racing

I have been running between 100- 120 miles a week.

I incorporated hills into my weekly routines. Wednesdays, I go and run in the mountains (Rock Creek) @ 10,000 to 12,000ft. This workout has become one of my favorites, because, regardless of the pace, my heart rate is always high, my legs feel like they are going to die, and at the end of the run I am just glad I had the opportunity to put in one more mountain run.

Nutrition has been an area of emphasis since my performance at the Stanford Invitational 10km (May 30th). Megan Forbes, a nutritionist from Boulder, has been advising me on this issue. I drove up to Boulder to meet with Megan. The whole experience was very exciting. I am extremely grateful for all her help and advise. While in Boulder I had the opportunity to meet with Courtney, who works for the U.S Athletic Trust. Prior to our meeting, we had communicated only through email. Thanks, Courtney, for such a great time, coffee and bagel =).

My last race was the U.S.A Half Marathon Championship in Kansas City. I came in third with a personal best time of 1:15:30. All I can say is that I am very happy to be back! I could not be any happier with my race. I am so excited about my future as a runner. Things are finally clicking. I am BACK, BACK, BACK!

Last but not least, I will be racing the Boilermaker 15km race in Utica. N.Y. on July 9th. God bless you all, and thank you again for your support!

June 30, 2006:

I just got back from Kansas…

I just got back from Kansas City where I ran the US National 1/2 marathon Championship. I placed 3rd with a time of 1:15:30 a personal best. I felt great and I am extremely excited about my future races. Read about it here.

Last April I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker for the Adams State Seniors Athletic Banquet. That was very rewarding. Then I did the same in May for a High School graduation. Right now I am in Aspen. I am spending great quality time training on the mountains and at the same time meeting with my former High School Coach (John Carney). I am going to start teaching an ESL Class twice a week starting on June 12. On the meantime, all my training and competition will be a preparation for my most important race of the year, Twin Cities Marathon on October 1st.

April 18, 2006:

My last race was the 15km…

My last race was the 15km championship in Jacksonville, Florida on March 11 where I placed 16th. On my way back home I had the honor to attend the Sports Women of Colorado banquet in Denver. Just exactly what I needed before I headed home. These banquet was full of spirit and it truly inspired and encouraged me to keep doing what I love doing "TO RUN." Thank you so much to Mary Ross for the invitation and for allowing me to spend the night at her house.

Training is been going great. I train here in Alamosa with the Track and Cross Country team. I train with the morning crew and I try to run as much as I can with the guys. I am so glad and thankful for having them around. Honestly, I just love to train as much as I love to compete. For the past 5 weeks I have been able to run 100 to 120miles per week. Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are usually pretty hard. Wednesdays are moderate and Mondays and Thursdays are easy, recovery days.

Right now, I am getting ready for the 10km at Stanford. My goal is to make the time to qualify for my first U.S. Outdoor nationals on June 26th. My coach Damon Martin and I are planning to be at our best by then.

Thank you so much to the US Athletic Trust and all the donors for all your support. You all are already making a big difference in my life!!! Mil gracias for allowing me to do what I truly LOVE — "RUNNING."

Tyler Hagler — April 4, 2006:

I am three weeks away from…

I am three weeks away from Senior Team Trials, one of two selection events for the team that will race at the World Championships in Szeged, Hungary. The trials will be held at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, where I have been located since mid-February. The second selection event will take place in May at the World Cup in Duisberg, Germany. My goal for Trials is to post a personal best in my K-1 (singles) races that would also qualify me for the K-4 (four-man kayak) selection pool.

Training at the OTC has been very good for me. I have steadily improved my K-1 times in our weekly time trial races. We have trained in teamboats several times a week, and I feel prepared for the possible combinations.

Tora Harris — July 13, 2006:

I have been training at the…

I have been training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. It has been going very well. I plan to start at the USA Championships. Hopefully this will give me the time to reach a unique level in my training. It is quite difficult to start the year at the USA championships, so it will be an interesting test to see how good my fitness can be without lots of competitions. There is no World Championship Team to make this outdoor season, so it is a good time to push things in the preseason. One target is to jump well at the end of the season (September) while still reaching a top three position in the USA OD Championships.

April 4, 2006:

I am back in San Diego after…

I am back in San Diego after about nine weeks of international competitions. It is nice to be back for a little rest. Soon it is back to training. In Boston, I qualified for the World Indoor Championships in Moscow. It was my 5^th team. There I finished 10^th and learned a lot for the next World Championships. The season was successful for the most part and the consistency has improved. I finished all meetings without injury.

Now I am scheduled for about 10 weeks of uninterrupted training before outdoor season starts. There is not much going on in way of major outdoor competitions for Americans. This is good as it allows us to push things a little in training and try out new ideas.

Gabriel Jennings — April 4, 2006:

My latest race was the US…

My latest race was the US Cross trials in Van Cortland Park, the Bronx, NYC, February 18th and 19th. I ran well, showing good fitness, taking fourteenth in the short-course 4K; and twenty-eighth in the long-course 12K. Cross-country has never been my specialty, but I had fun, and it was nice of Amory Rowe to come and cheer US Athletic Trust athletes on!

Training has been going splendid in Woodside, California. I have been living in a huge bungalow with eight of my Team Running USA teammates. I sleep in the office; we share bathrooms, cook, clean and otherwise live communally together. We are on a rigorous program of three workouts a week, two on the Stanford track, and core strength and plyometrics on alternate days. We have been hitting the beautiful redwood trails in Hudder Park just a mile from our house in the Santa Cruz Mountains just west of Stanford, Palo Alto. My fitness is coming along, especially the speed--today I ran 300m repeats in under 40 seconds, which would net me a PR 1:45 in the 800m. My threshold is a little inconsistent￢ﾀﾔsome days I am at 2:35/kilometer and other days I am closer to 3:00. The focus for the remainder of this phase of training is to improve my threshold so that I can run a good 5K at the Stanford Invitational and the Mt. Sac Invitational the first and last weekends in April. Beginning in May I plan on doing a three week program of strictly 800m training, partly in order to give my aerobic system a break, partly to put my speed and form in motion, and partly to achieve my favorite runner's high that only speed can give you. I hope to run 4 X 800m in 1:56 - 1:52; 4 X 400m in 52 - 49; and 4 X 200 in 25 - 23. Though, we all know, talk is cheap, I need to lace my spikes up and get after it. Of course, the overall goal of all this training is to be a contender to win the US nationals 1500m in June, 2006.

Oh, and did I mention I am taking classes at Stanford on top of all the training through the spring? My latest effort was to re-write and update the US Constitution, as well as to submit a proposal for a participatory fourth branch of government, part of whose function it would be to fund sport in a similar but extended fashion to that of the US Athletic Trust!! Unfortunately, my attempt was harshly rejected. I guess I will have to publish elsewhere. Ha!

Maya Lawrence — July 13, 2006:

I just returned yesterday…

I just returned yesterday from a long trip, which included fencing in 6 different individual and team competitions over the course of 3 weeks.

Preparing for this string of competitions was tough because they began just after I returned home from a North American Cup in Sacramento. This big trip was particularly hard because we competed in three different continents and time zones, as we had to fly to Spain, China, and Australia. Fortunately, I was able to succeeded in making a top-32 result at the end of the trip. I'm particularly happy that I was able to compete in so many high-level competitions during such a short period of time. The next few days I'll spend recuperating from the 43 hours I've spent in the air and the 30 hours I've spent competing on the fencing strip!

Next week, however, it's back to practice to prepare for my next important competition: the U.S. Division 1 National Championships which are being held on Independence Day in Atlanta, Georgia.

April 4, 2006:

Right now I'm in Europe,…

Right now I'm in Europe, training and competing. I'm enjoying my life in Paris not only because it's a great city, but also because it's given me the opportunity to train with some of the best women's epee fencers in the world.

Our season is about halfway over and I've fenced in two major national tournaments and five world cups. My best world cup result was last weekend in Rome, where I came in 26^th place. I'm hoping to improve my results as the season progresses. This coming weekend I will compete in Luxembourg, and in April I'll be returning to the States to attend a national competition in Sacramento. May will be a crazy month because I'll be traveling and training with the U.S. team for three and a half weeks. We'll be attending individual and team competitions in Spain, China, and Australia. The end of April and beginning of May will consist of some hard training to prepare for this intense month of traveling and competition.

After this long trip I will spend June recovering and training for the National Championships which are in Atlanta this July. If I feel like I'm still in good shape after such a long string of tournaments, I may decide to attend an additional world cup in Vancouver or Havana as a "warm-up" for the Championships.

All in all, I'm excited about the second half of the season. I'm happy with my training center here in Paris and I'm looking forward to seeing some results that reflect the hard work I've done these past few months.

Scott Macartney — April 4, 2006:

I am in Sweden right for…

I am in Sweden right for the next few days. I am finishing up the World Cup season here at the World Cup Finals, then head to the US National Championships in Sugarloaf, Maine. I ended the season ranked 10th in the world in Super-G and 26th in Downhill, which are by far my best rankings of my career. It has been an amazing and fun ski season. As the season comes to and end, I will likely get even more busy. I am headed to Alaska to do a fun competition called ArticMan, a race combining downhill with snowmobiling. It should be a lot of fun. After that I will probably head back to Europe to test equipment for a week, then I should have some time off to rest and work a bit.

January 9, 2006:

I have had a great couple…

I have had a great couple of weeks. I tied my best finish of my career in the first World Cup of the season, a 24^th, and then went on to score a career best 7^th in the super-G in Val Gardena, Italy, followed by an 11^th the next day in downhill, both by far my best results to date. The week before in Val d'Isere, France I scored points in the combined competition and was 6^th on the Downhill portion of the event.

It was a great breakthrough that I hope continues in the upcoming races this winter. I have a downhill and combined race in Wengen Switzerland 13-15^th of January, followed by races in Garmisch Germany, Kitzbuhel Austria, and Chamonix France. The Olympic team will be named for us on the 25^th of January.

Jordan Rapp — April 17, 2006:

I've just returned from Scottsdale,…

I've just returned from Scottsdale, AZ, where I spent a couple days meeting all the sponsors for the 2006 Timex Team. It was a nice chance to rest and recovery after three weeks of very large volume; I trained about 90 hours during that three week build, and I was ready for a couple days off in the warm Arizona sunshine. Now I'm back to training and getting ready to race in North Carolina and then Florida.

Jarrod Shoemaker — July 13, 2006:

Well, this is probably the…

Well, this is probably the quickest I have ever sent out a race report, but there is a great reason for it. I finished 2nd overall at the Edmonton World Cup behind Olympic Gold medalist Hamish Carter and right in front of World Ranked #1 Hunter Kemper. This was by far the best finish I have ever had in my career. It was raining as we warmed up and it was pretty cold, about 75 degrees out, a far cry from the 90 degree temps or so we usual race in. The swim started out well, I pushed out hard and thought I was actually doing pretty poorly. I saw a lot of people ahead of me and figured it was almost last. I still pushed hard and tried to catch and pass people as we approached the 750m swim turn around. As I approached the turn around I looked ahead and was waiting for people to be starting their second lap, but to my surprise nobody was. I was at the back of the front pack! I pushed hard over the second lap and ended up swimming hard and could not close a gap of about 10 meters on the lead pack. I came out ran hard into transition and had a great transition. I pushed on the start of the bike into the first hill, but never caught onto the back of the pack. I ended up getting with a few people and we worked together for 1.5 laps until we caught the lead pack. We basically worked as a unit and I stayed out of trouble on the wet roads. As we came into transition 2, I was very excited, I knew that I was ready to have a great run. I had an awful transition and ended up last out of transition. I worked hard to catch up to the leaders and it took me about 800 meters to be back up front. I ran with Hamish for a while and Hunter was off the front. As we came around to the middle of lap 2 I pushed hard and ended up separating from the people behind me. At that point I was in 3rd place and I was excited for my first World Cup podium. I ran harder and tried to catch Hunter. I caught him with about 3/4 of a lap to go and ran with him until the finish shoot. I had the fastest run at 31:29.

Overall it was a spectacular race and I am so happy to have my first podium finish of my career. I am now ranked #21 in the world! Thank you to all my sponsors, friends and family. I am so excited and happy to be racing again in 2 weeks in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

July 7, 2006:

Hello! I just finished my…

Hello! I just finished my 3rd ever professional nationals and improved my placing for the 3rd straight time. In 2004 I was 22nd, in 2005 I was 12th and now in 2006 I finished 8th.

The race was held for the first time ever in Long Beach, California and the race organization was a bit crazy since they had only started planning the race 4 months ago. However, they told us that they hope and plan to be USA Pro Nationals for the next several years and will improve on the race.

The morning started off very early, at 3:30pm, when I woke up. It probably is the earliest I have had to wake up for a race in two years. Our race started at 6am and it was barely light out. I did not have as good a swim as I have had the past few races, and I ended up coming out of the water in 10th or 11th place. I barely missed the second pack that formed quickly and ended up having to wait for a minute for the 3rd pack on the road to catch up to me. As a pack we worked well and brought the gap down to 1 minute heading onto the run.

I had the best run that I have had all season. I ran 31:18 for the 10km race, good for the 3rd overall time behind Hunter Kemper (30:39) and Andy Potts (31:01) who finished 2nd and 3rd. I moved up quickly though my pack and started to pick off people. I passed two people for top 10 and then caught a guy to get into 9th place. I ended up finishing 8th place only 5 seconds out of 7th place and 10 out of 6th place. Overall a great performance and one that I can build upon in the future.

I am happy with my performance, but excited to get back into World Cup racing in Edmonton in a few weeks on July 9th. I will be traveling up to Canada for the next month to race in Edmonton and Corner Brook World Cups.

July 2, 2006:

Hello! I just finished my…

Hello! I just finished my 3rd ever professional nationals and improved my placing for the 3rd straight time. In 2004 I was 22nd, in 2005 I was 12th and now in 2006 I finished 8th.

The race was held for the first time ever in Long Beach, California and the race organization was a bit crazy since they had only started planning the race 4 months ago. However, they told us that they hope and plan to be USA Pro Nationals for the next several years and will improve on the race.

The morning started off very early, at 3:30pm, when I woke up. It probably is the earliest I have had to wake up for a race in two years. Our race started at 6am and it was barely light out. I did not have as good a swim as I have had the past few races, and I ended up coming out of the water in 10th or 11th place. I barely missed the second pack that formed quickly and ended up having to wait for a minute for the 3rd pack on the road to catch up to me. As a pack we worked well and brought the gap down to 1 minute heading onto the run.

I had the best run that I have had all season. I ran 31:18 for the 10km race, good for the 3rd overall time behind Hunter Kemper (30:39) and Andy Potts (31:01) who finished 2nd and 3rd. I moved up quickly though my pack and started to pick off people. I passed two people for top 10 and then caught a guy to get into 9th place. I ended up finishing 8th place only 5 seconds out of 7th place and 10 out of 6th place. Overall a great performance and one that I can build upon in the future.

I am happy with my performance, but excited to get back into World Cup racing in Edmonton in a few weeks on July 9th. I will be traveling up to Canada for the next month to race in Edmonton and Corner Brook World Cups.

Thank you for your support!
Jarrod

June 23, 2006:

Hello again! I am now back…

Hello again! I am now back home from Madrid and am getting ready for Pro Nationals which will be held in Long Beach, CA on June 25th. Madrid is a wonderful city, our hotel was across the street from the Royal Palace and the park that we raced in was the park that the royal family used as their private playground. The park now is open to the public and is quite well used.

The swim was crazy. It was the largest and most competitive World Cup field in the history of triathlon. There were 80 men on the start line and that made for a hard pace to the first buoy, 300 meters away. I got out fairly well and was in the second pack around the first buoy. I remained in the second pack throughout the swim and came out of the water in good position.

As we worked on the bike I pushed hard to make sure I was in the second pack from the start. Our pack worked well together, but we never made up the small gap of 45 seconds to the front pack. At one point we could see the pack, but never caught up to them. Coming into transition we were about 50 seconds back from the front pack, a gap that was a little bit too big.

As I transitioned I was excited about my run and knew that I had put myself in a fairly good position. However, as I started to run, my legs were heavy and I hoped to be able to run through them. They started to come around and I was able to pick off a bunch of people, but not move into the top 20. I ended up with the 18th fastest run time.

Overall it was a great race for me. My swim has come a long way since the beginning of last year and I am confident on the bike right now. I still have to be able to run as fast in races as I am on the track during workouts, which will happen in time (I am planning on it at Long Beach). I am now ranked #69 in the world on both the ITU Points List and the ITU World Cup list and technically am #23 on the Olympic Qualifying list since Madrid was the first Olympic qualifying race.

Next up is the Long Beach Continental Cup on June 25th which is our Professional National Championships.

May 9, 2006:

I am currently in the Las…

I am currently in the Las Vegas airport waiting for my flight back to Boston as I return home from Mazatlan, Mexico. It was quite an experience being in Mazatlan; it is a vacation town, but is still quite Mexican. The waves were amazing. I do not think I ever saw a wave smaller than 4 feet the whole weekend I was there and most of the waves were 6-9 feet and barrels! They changed the course from previous years and made it a swim in a marina instead of the ocean, which changed the course as well. The race was set up very well and the course was quite technical, but very challenging.

I had the best swim of my career and was in the front pack off the first lap. I faded a bit over the second lap, but was out of the water in the 3rd pack. We worked hard and pulled the second pack in over the bike. However, the lead pack kept their distance and ended up with a 2:30 advantage off the bike. The heat and humidity of Mazatlan took their tolls on the run, but I was able to post the 12th fastest run time and ended up in 18th place, my second best World Cup finish ever.

I am very excited with this result this early in the season and I hope to build on my finish in my next World Cup in Madrid which is also the first qualifier for the World Championships this season which will be held in Switzerland. I am currently ranked #63 in the world after my finish and am the 8th American male.

April 9, 2006:

I had a wonderful trip down…

I had a wonderful trip down to Australia. It was my first time in Australia and the people and beaches were fantastic. My dad accompanied me to this race, and it was special to me for him to watch me race a World Cup. The field was probably one of the best ever assembled, with 15 World Cup winners, the Olympic silver medalist and World Championship winners all toeing the start line. I was thrilled to be on the start line and race with such amazing athletes and knew that it would be a great learning experience.

The race was moved to a river after the ocean waves were 8-10 feet for the three days leading into the race. I was hoping for an ocean swim where my skills of Ocean Lifeguarding would help me out, but I will have to wait till Mazatlan World Cup to race in the ocean. The swim was amazingly fast, I felt the best I have ever felt in the swim and came out of the water right with the pack I was hoping to be with. I had a slow transition and ended up in the third pack on the bike. We were working well together until a lady stepped out in front of our pack and the other American athlete in the pack crashed into her. We struggled to get back together and I ended up falling off the pack. I latched onto the next pack on the road and came into transition still a bit in shock from the crash in our bike pack. I pushed through the pain on my run and had a great last 5km.

I finished 27th overall, a great start to my season. I will be racing in the Elite Section of the Carlsbad 5000m this Saturday, April 9, and then heading to Japan for the Ishigaki World Cup on April 16. I am excited for these two racing opportunities.

My website has been updated and I will be uploading pictures from Mooloolaba shortly. It was quite a beautiful place!

Thank you all for your support!

April 4, 2006:

I will be training at the…

I will be training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California for the next three weeks. I have already completed two weeks of great base training. The weather has not been as great as we had hoped, but it is better than the weather back in Massachusetts right now. I am heading off to Mooloolaba, Australia on Tuesday to compete in my first race of the season. It will be a great race as the Australians and Kiwis are coming off their Commonwealth Games this past weekend. After returning from Australia I will be spending another 2 weeks in Chula Vista, before I head to Ishigaki, Japan for another World Cup, and then head back home to Massachusetts.

2005

Sam Burley — November 18, 2005:

I've been between Philadelphia…

I've been between Philadelphia and DC and just, this week, finally got moved in. I am now officially training in DC, coached by Juli Henner and working out with Chris Lukezic. I'm still getting back into the swing of things but had a great strength workout yesterday with two sets of 500-500-1000 in a decent pace (the last 1000 was in 2:42). I don't have any competitions scheduled but will let you know when my first race is.

September 23, 2005:

Europe went well. I ran two…

Europe went well. I ran two 800's, one in Germany (second place) and one in Poland (win). Neither of the times were spectacular, 1:46.7 and 147.1 respectively, but it was nice race again. Right now i'm at the end my two weeks off and getting ready to start running. My season had, more or less, begun. I take 2-3 weeks completely off once the season ends. It's mostly to give my body a chance to recuperate but it's also a mental thing (sometimes I can't even bring myself to cool down completely after my last race). I'm back running now and for the next two months it's base time, slowly ramping up my mileage. I'm doing about 35 miles/week for the next 10 days, 6 one day, 4 the next, then 40 for the next ten (7 and 5) then 8,6 then a regular week with long runs etc. In general I try to stay away from the track in the fall but I do hill tempo and interval workouts later in the fall. Also, I've decided to move to Washington D.C. to train under Julie Henner. I need a change of pace and Washington offers the opportunity to experience a slightly different training system with training partners who will certainly push me. I'll be working out with Chris Lukezic and Alan Webb, two of the best middle distance runners in America. There are also a number of elite athletes in the area who work out with this group. Basically, I want to make sure that I try everything I can to be world class.

June 7, 2005:

I opened up with my fastest…

I opened up with my fastest season debut ever, a 1:46.70 at the Payton Jordon US Open in California, and followed it up with a 3rd place in 1:47 at the USA-UK-Russia track meet in Scotland.

Brian Chaput — November 18, 2005:

The last few weeks have been…

The last few weeks have been quite positive. I continue to recover from a UCL reconstruction (R elbow) in late June, and find myself ahead of schedule in the process. At this point, I have progressed to throwing baseballs upward of 150'. While in full-health I can throw around 400', seeing an object fly through the air again is a great feeling and I am confident that I will recover to full-strength and participate in the US Championships in late June 2006.

Due to the injury, this year's training has taken a different tone. There is a greater emphasis on lower body strengthening/conditioning and mental training. Lower body conditioning includes lots of running, stairs, plyos, sprints, squats, step ups, etc. I have found creative ways to work around the inability to completely use the right arm at this point, finding myself doing one-arm snatches and cleans, and other activities to increase body awareness and core stability. Mental training is also beginning to become an integral piece of my routine again. While I cannot physically throw a javelin at this point, I can visualize the javelin throw thousands of times in my head. And do so with correct technique. Training the mind will hopefully help the body respond with correct mechanics, once it is ready. Additionally, I have spent countless hours working on hip mechanics, re-training flawed patterns that have in the past proven my greatest barrier to longer throws. I am confident that once I can resolve lower body technical issues, everything will piece together for longer throws.

I will be able to throw the women's implement in December, working slowly but steadily to the men's javelin. I still ultimately aim for a 2008 Olympic medal.

September 23, 2005:

Brian underwent surgery…

Brian underwent surgery for an injury suffered in the Reebok Grand Prix in New York.  He had the following to say about his rehabilitation process: Things are going really well with the rehabilitation process and I wanted to share some recent excitement. Just a few weeks back I visited my surgeon for my first follow-up appointment since rehab. His assessment was that I am "dramatically ahead of schedule." He actually brought other doctors into the room to look at the elbow and they were all amazed how far it had advanced in just a few weeks. For example, I gained full extension in my arm in just one week after rehab, and he expected that to take 7 weeks. Things are looking good, and although rehab is still slow and meticulous, I am very confident with my progress to date. In just 5 weeks I will begin to throw baseballs. It will be only 30', but that is 30' further than I'm throwing now!

June 7, 2005:

Thus far, this 2005 Track…

Thus far, this 2005 Track season has been on target. I have captured first place honors in each meet, with notables including the Penn Relays, Adidas Track Classic and Payton Jordan US Open. My new personal best is 80.45m, and I am looking forward to increasing that mark in the upcoming weeks and months. With the USA Championships just a few weeks away, this is a time of great excitement as I prepare for the opportunity to make my first World team as a member of USA Track and Field.
2005 Statistics (as of June 1, 2005):
PB: 80.45m (263.94ft)
US rank: 2
World IAAF Rank: 17

Susan Francia — November 12, 2005:

Each fall USRowing holds…

Each fall USRowing holds a head race style competition for the elite rowers to showcase their talents in the smaller boats. This race not only gives coaches a good indication for selection, but there is also a monetary reward involved! The length of the race changes each year, though it is always a longer distance than the conventional 2 km. This year the distance was 8 km (~5 miles) and only the single (sculling) and the pair (sweep rowing) were contested. Because the course is only 3 miles long, there is a full 180 degree turn halfway through the race that is included in total time. My pair partner, US Silver-medalist Olympian Megan Dirkmaat and I had practiced our start, our turn, the final sprint, steering the course, and even possible adverse situations in preparation for this race. With me at stroke and Megan holding down the bow, we were prepared to put up a strong fight against the top pairs. The race was held last Saturday at a frigid and very early 7am. We launched our boat at a gloomy 6:20am. By that time, we had long wiped the sleepiness out of our eyes because it was race day and we wanted to win. Our warm up had gone well and as we started the race, we knew this was ours for the taking. As we settled into our rhythm, we knew we were setting an excellent pace. The piece felt exceptional the whole way through, from start to finish. Our turn was probably the best one we had done yet. Luckily no adverse situations arose and we steered a fantastic course. Though we visibly moved away from many of the other crews, we were not sure how he had fared against the top pair. After returning to the dock and talking to the coach, we found out that we had won! Our elation was surpassed only by our exhaustion. All the hard work we had put in during the fall had paid off and now we are ready to start training for the spring season which will hopefully bring as many victories as the fall.

November 5, 2005:

The Head of the Charles is…

The Head of the Charles is perhaps the most prestigious fall race in the United States. It is raced 'head race' style, which means that each boat is started on 15 second intervals one after another. What makes this fall rowing festival held in Boston so unique is that it is one of the only races in which collegiate rowers and international elite rowers come face to face. Almost every boat category is contested, yet the most celebrated are the Champion singles and champion eights. This year I had the honor of sitting 5 seat in the women's eight representing the US. Though the conditions were very cold and the water very choppy, we raced a phenomenal race down the 3 mile course. Princeton University started off the line first, followed by Yale University, and then us. These are two very good crews that we knew were going to be perhaps our biggest competition. We got off to a good start and successfully passed the Yale crew after the first half of a mile. Princeton's boat was in sight and not too far off. The wind was blowing ruthlessly but we were determined to get those Princeton kids. After another mile and a half we had made up quite a bit of ground. The cheering from the each of the bridges along the Charles River only inspired us more. Our last mile was quite a sprint, as our coxswain Mary Whipple kept asking us to commit to each other and to winning. Though we did not get to pass Princeton's crew, we knew we had beaten them in overall time. We made quite a charge in the end and hoped that our effort was good enough to beat out all of the international crews. As we loaded our boat onto the trailer our assistant coach informed us that we had won by 16 seconds! We managed to defeat all the international as well collegiate crews that came to race. For the first time in three years, the victory of the Head of the Charles came back to the United States women. Not only did we defeat the elite Princeton and Yale crews, but we held off the charge by the Canadian and Dutch national teams as well. We were rewarded generously by clothing gifts from Nautica, however the sheer joy of finally winning this event that made our experience most memorable.

Bryon Friedman — November 18, 2005:

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity…

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to open up for the Doobie Brothers at the New York City Ski Ball. I brought my band out there and we played a 25 minute set, which went really well! The Ball was at the Hammerstein ballroom, which is huge compared to the small bars I'm used to playing in so it was great! There were over 900 people in attendance, which provided some great experience of playing in front of bigger crowds and on a killer sound system.

I also just had another surgery on Tuesday so I'm recovering from that. I'm hoping this is the last as I've already been through seven with this injury. The doctors were confident that they repaired everything well so I'm happy with my decision and looking forward to being back on snow sometime this February or March.

September 23, 2005:

I'm in the last few days…

I'm in the last few days of therapy in Santa Barbara and will be relocating next week. My plan is to move back to Park City and continue my rehabilitation there close to my family and friends. After my last surgery in June I have been showing signs of improvement and making great strength gains. I still have a fair amount of pain in my leg so I'm dealing with that everyday, which I'm hoping will fade in time and I'll be back on my skis soon! I do have a website now as well so if you need any more info or pictures go to: BryonFriedman.com.

Tora Harris — November 18, 2005:

I just got back from China…

I just got back from China this week. It was a nightmare when I lost my passport and everything two days before I had to depart! It was a challenge. I am slowly getting everything back right. I am back now in Chula Vista, CA [Olympic Training] Center. Everything is fine. I plan to do a little meeting at Princeton on Dec 10th, but still have to work out the details. I have a very ambitious schedule this winter, it is much more important than the outdoors.

September 23, 2005:

I have been training here…

I have been training here at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for the past 2 months. I did not participate in any meetings after the USA Championships and used the time to study my technique - making over 150 jumps in training. My next meeting will be in the Shanghai Grand Prix on September 17th. I will try to make full preparations as it is my last outdoor meeting. Next indoor season is important as we have world indoor championships again in Moscow. What I am doing now will build into the next season. I will have about a week away from the track after my last meeting in Shanghai. I will most likely spend it in China or around Asia. I also took very little time off after Athens and it worked great for my indoor season.

June 7, 2005:

I have been in Europe competing…

I have been in Europe competing in a few meets before the USA Outdoor Championships/Team Trials. I departed on the 1st and am returning to San Deigo from Amsterdam tomorrow. I have jumped a best of 2.23m this outdoors which just looks sort of average but is in the right direction. Training has been going very well for the start of the outdoor season. I have one more meet in Vancouver on the 14th. Then it will all come down to the USA Championships (6/26) to determine who will make the team for the World Championships in Helsinki later his summer.

Gabriel Jennings — December 11, 2005:

Gabriel wrote this about…

Gabriel wrote this about his recent performance at the CIF Sacramento Marathon. It has proved quite the exciting weekend. I have never endured so much pain, nor of that quality and it is satisfying to finish. The whole experience has been magical. I felt as if we were going to battle when we boarded the bus from the meet headquarters at 5:15am, still dark, but It felt more like a rock concert when I arrived at the start. In the initial stages of the race (at first twilight) I felt incredible power, pop, and awe at my fortunate turn of events--leading with a two minute gap by half way. But at mile 20 my flowing world slowly dissolved, as I felt that I was beginning to slowly fall off a tin roof, digging my fingernails into the metal to slow the inevitable fall. Indeed, with three miles to go I fell. I started running 6 minute miles as my lead waned; there was nothing I could do, my tank was empty as coach observed. I am lucky to have finished. I almost fainted, and I am still fairly crippled, yet, it was one of the most sublime experiences of my life. My first half was in 1:07, where as my second was 1:12. Yet, somehow the race was perfect just how it turned out, and I wouldn't trade anything in for a different outcome. It was wonderful to have the US Athletic Trust singlet and jacket. I looked very sharp, and was proud to promote the Trust, it gave me a greater sense of purpose. Thankyou.

November 18, 2005:

Team USA is closing our Mammoth…

Team USA is closing our Mammoth Lakes training block this fall. Some of my teammates have already left mammoth for the holidays. I will be leaving Mammoth the day before Thanksgiving to run a 10K or 5K road race on Thanksgiving day in either Sacramento or San Jose. Today I did mile repeats with collegiate 5K record holders and fellow Stanford alum, Ian Dobson and Ryan Hall. The workout went well despite our condo being sickened by stomach flu the past week. I have been logging high 100 plus mile weeks the past 15 weeks in preparation for the CIF Sacramento Marathon December fourth. This will be my last major week of intense training before I go into taper mode. This past week on top of running 115 miles, I did a 24 mile long run Sunday in 2:24 with major hills (one eleven minute hill) at 8,000 ft elevation. Two days before I did an 8 mile tempo run in 42:03. I think I am in 29 minute shape for 10K and sub 2:20 for my marathon. These are modest goals, but indicative of good fitness for the 1500m guy that I am. December I plan on renewing my strength at my home in Mendocino before resuming rigorous training with Team USA in Palo Alto in January of the new year, 2006! On top of world class training with the most Elite track group in the country I anticipate taking classes at Stanford and helping out with the Stanford Track team a few days a week. Thank you U.S. Athletic trust for facilitating my dreams!

Maya Lawrence — November 18, 2005:

I've been living in Paris…

I've been living in Paris and training with the French for about two months now. I'm ecstatic to be here, and believe that the move to Europe was the right choice for my fencing career. I attended my first French national circuit this past weekend, and placed in the top-24 in a field of over 100 seasoned French and Italian fencers. I went into the round of direct elimination with a 9-1 record from the preliminary rounds. I'm happy with my performance, and I'm looking forward to the start of a new season. This December and January I'll compete in two national events in the States, but after the holidays it's back to Europe for the World Cup circuit!

September 23, 2005:

I attended the World University…

I attended the World University Games last week. My result wasn't so great (57th), but it was a wonderful learning experience and an inspirational event. It's even more clear to me now how much I'd like to make it to the Olympics. My next tournament is in Leipzig for the World Championships. I'm looking forward to it since it will be my first time attending. In September I'll be moving to France to train for the next few years. My goal is to raise my world ranking which will help me to qualify for Beijing.

July 13, 2005:

After winning the national…

After winning the national championships last week, I secured my position on the World Team for Women's Epee. That means I'll be going to the World Championships, which will be held in Germany in October. I also found out that I will compete in Izmir, Turkey for the World University Games in August. I'm extremely excited because I've never competed either of those competitions. I'm also happy in general for having a successful season.

June 10, 2005:

My season is going well;…

My season is going well; I'm currently ranked 2nd in the country in Women's Epee fencing and 63rd in the world. My world ranking has taken a tumble because I've only attended a few world cups this season due to school and work conflicts (I'm in graduate school studying ESL education). However, I'll be done with school in August and plan to move to Europe this September so that I can train and compete more.

Scott Macartney — November 18, 2005:

So I have been in Copper…

So I have been in Copper Mountain and Loveland, Colorado the last few weeks. This is our last training block before we start racing. Skiing has been going well… Lots of new snow here in Colorado and lots at home in Washington as well. My first race is right around the corner… Starting the 24th of November in Lake Louise, Canada with a Downhill and Super-G. That is the start of the season, the next race being in Beaver Creek over December 1-4. Then we are off to Europe for the rest of the World Cup season. I am hoping to start the season off strong here in North America and carry the momentum into the European races!

September 23, 2005:

I am doing well. I am ending…

I am doing well. I am ending some time off, I have been at home in the Seattle area working out and relaxing a bit. I start the last part of our prep season soon, as I head down to Chile on the 5th of September. The speed team (downhill and super-G group) will be in Chillian and Portillo for three weeks. Then I will be back home for a couple weeks of down time, then I head to Tignes, France for another two weeks of training in October. After that, the season really gets going. We have a training block in Colorado in early November, then the first race of the season will be in Lake Louise, Canada over Thanksgiving weekend. The next weekend (Dec 1-4) we have our only race on US soil, the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek which is usually a blast! After that we head to Europe for the rest of the World Cup circuit. For us, each world cup race is a qualifier for the Olympic team as the selection will be off of overall performance at those races rather than a single event. So I am feeling good, healthy and in shape and ready to start skiing again!

June 5, 2005:

I have entered into the "off-season"…

I have entered into the "off-season" phase of alpine skiing. I am currently enjoying a little bit of time off snow and the chance to recover from the wear and tear of the competitive season. That time off is brief, however, as training for next season has already started in the form of several workouts a day. I am enjoying the chance to work on my weaknesses-flexibility and a few injuries-while building the base for more specific training this summer. I have been surfing and riding my road bike a lot as well. I am already looking forward to my next time on snow which will be in September down in Chile. Currently I am in Santa Barbara and will remain here until the end of June, then I will be back at home in Seattle, WA for the remainder of the summer.

Adam Nelson — September 23, 2005:

After four silver medals…

After four silver medals at the championship level, two Olympic silvers and two World Championships silvers, Adam Nelson finally struck gold! He took top honors in the shot put at the Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland on August 6th. Nelson won the contest with his first throw of the day, 21.73m, his best mark since 2002. For his efforts and accomplishment, Adam was named USATF athlete of the week. Adam followed up his World Championships gold with yet another definitive and season-ending victory in the shot put. In the World Athletics Final held in Monte Carlo, Monaco on September 10, Adam threw for 21.92m, a season PR, to solidify his standing as the best thrower of 2005.

Jordan Rapp — June 10, 2005:

After a slightly rocky start…

After a slightly rocky start to the season, I had a great showing in my second race, and second ever Half-Ironman (1.2m/56m/13.1m), this season. I learned from some of the mistakes I made at my season opener and came away with my first top-5 showing of the season. I'm currently preparing for a trip out to British Columbia to train with my coach and several of his other athletes, including 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Simon Whitfield and 2004 Ironamn Canada and 2004 Ironman Florida Champion Tom Evans, as well as a host of other ITU and long-course pros. After I return from Canada, I will be racing at the Timberman Half-Ironman in August, which serves as the US Long Course National Championships.

Jarrod Shoemaker — November 7, 2005:

Greetings from Down Under! I…

Greetings from Down Under! I arrived in New Zealand on Monday afternoon after 21 hours of flying and about 34 hours of travel. I got the chance to meet up with some old Dartmouth friends in LA and go for a short run. The flight from LAX to Auckland was long, but I slept for most of it.
I arrived in New Plymouth and over the last 2 days have been able to see the course and this morning I was able to swim in the water. Its about 16 degrees Celcius, or 60 degrees F, so its pretty cold. It looks like it is going to be a wonderful race venue.
This morning I was lucky enough to be invited to talk to a group of 10-12 year olds at a local school. Some of the kids will be competing in the Weet-Bix Youth Tryathlon that takes place on Friday. I had a great time talking to them about my experiences, and answering their questions, which ranged from if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? to who do you most want to race? The were quite fun to talk to and I am excited to watch them race on Friday.
The New Plymouth World Cup will be broadcast with live video on the triathlon.org website. The women's race begins at 12:00pm on Sunday and the men's race starts at 2:45pm. That means that for the east coast you will be able to watch my race beginning at 8:45pm on SATURDAY evening.

September 23, 2005:

Jarrod Shoemaker had…

Jarrod Shoemaker had an solid race at the USA Triathlon Nationals in Bellingham, Washington on August 7th. He finished 12th overall and 2nd in the Under-23 category, thereby qualifying for the U-23 World Championships Team due to compete in Gamagori, Japan on September 10th. Jarrod followed up his successful campaign to make the U23 Worlds Team with an astonishing 7th place finish at a World Cup race in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary. He wrote the following about his experience: My first trip to Hungary was a quite successful one. Having never been to Hungary, I was quite unsure about the country, but I was extremely pleased and surprised with how nice the people were. The city of Tiszaujvaros is about 2 hours outside Budapest, on the flat plains in eastern Hungary. The people of this small city are triathlon happy! The whole week was crazy, from the concerts to the 30 minute post race party firework celebration. Overall it was quite an amazing experience. The swim was in the River Tisza, which was silty brown and had an extremely strong current. The loops were a 1000 meter loop and a 500 meter loop. We swam about 3 minutes for the first 500m with the current and then 8 minutes of the way back. On the way out I was dunked and came up at the back of the pack, but I tried to swim for gaps and ended up back at the front by the time we hit the first buoy. I cut across and tried to hug the shoreline. I realized I was in about 10th place and tried hard to hold onto that spot. As we climbed out from lap 1 I was still in about 12th place. I held on for a 17th place swim, missing the first bike pack by about 15 seconds, but I was more than happy to make a second bike pack in a world cup for now. The bike was frustrating. The first group on the road was about 15 men deep and they were working hard on the road. We were only down by about 30 seconds at the start, but that gap grew over time. I tried to get our pack together to chase, but we kept losing time to the first pack. By the end of the bike we were down by a little over 2 minutes, and I came off the bike with about 45 other guys. I was happy to have stayed out of trouble on the bike and excited to get onto the run. The run was amazing. I knew that I could place to 20, as I was in 17th partway through the first lap of the run. I ran with Peter Robertson, a former World Champion, for most of the first lap. I then started to catch people from the first bike pack. As I kept running along I knew that I felt great, but didnﾒt know if I was going to make it into the top 10. But by the last lap I was in 9th, and I could see the 8th and 7th place people just ahead of me. I caught them and finished off with the fastest run split! This race was so much fun and was definitely a breakthrough race for me. My 7th place finish puts me at #45 on the World Cup Points list (a yearly World Cup list), and should move me up close to the top 50 in the World Rankings List (a list compiled over years of racing). For pictures and official results go to: Results. There is also a Slide Show of race pictures. And a Live Photo Gallery. I want to thank all of you for your support! I hope that summer is treating you all well.

Jarrod also wrote in about his thrilling U-23 World Championships victory. This is what he had to say: The swim was crazy, I have never been the first one called out onto the pontoon before, and it was fun choosing my starting position. I chose a far left position, and had open water for the first 250m of the swim. However, once we hit the first turn it was just a crazy mess of people. I was able to survive through the swim, although I did not have the best swims of my life, it was good enough for me to make the front of the second pack. On the bike I spent the first two laps pushing the pace hard to catch up the first pack. We caught them at the end of the third lap and I moved up to the front so that I could avoid the crashes that inevitably happen in the back of the packs. I was able to keep the pace at a reasonable tempo, and we went into transition with about 35 people in my pack. I made it out on the run in 12th place, and by the first 800m had moved my way up to the front. I started to push the pace to see who was going to stick with me. The third place finisher from France pushed me hard at the start, and then the second place finisher Daniel Suprov from Kahzikstan made a big move to catch me at the start of the third lap. I was pushing very hard in the heat and was able to survive the run. I ran 32:19, which was the 6th fastest run time, with the 5 fastest being in the elite mens race. Overall it was a wonderful experience and I had a lot of fun. I am excited to head over to China and see Beijing! I hope you all are well. Thanks for the support.

June 8, 2005:

My first full professional…

My first full professional triathlon season is well underway. I finished 5th in the Tempe ITU Triathlon, earning my first ITU points and my first world ranking. I was in the front pack off the swim and in the bike. The run was my strong point and I cruised home to my 5th place victory. This race has provided me with a great starting point for the season. I will be competing in many ITU races in the upcoming months with my goal of making the Under 23 World Championship Team.