by John Welch

This article is a continuation of the feature on the Y100 Boerne Triathlon in the October 2002 issue of Runner Triathlete News. To get the full scoop on the Y100 Boerne Triathlon, pick up a copy of that issue.

Despite being rescheduled to Sept. 1 following cancellation on its original July 7 date, the Y100 Boerne Triathlon went off with a large crowd of nearly 700 athletes from around the South Mid-West Region. The event, deemed the Texas State Championship this year and in 2001, is one of the most challenging events around with an unusual swim, run and bike format.

"People like to do this race because of the unusual format," said race director Roger Soler of San Antonio. "And it is the state championship, so people also want to do it for the ranking points."

And the professional field always returns to the race year in and year out for the course and for the money. James Bonney of Austin won the event from 1995-1999, but missed the event in 2000 when he sojourned to California with his girlfriend, country singer Elizabeth Kreutz. He returned to the event last year, but finished second to fellow Austinite Michael Lovato, who currently lives and trains in Boulder, Colo.

"My girlfriend and I lived in Santa Monica while I was gone," said Bonney, a 30-year-old Web developer. "She was following a dream, and sometimes you have to do that. California was not as good to train in as Texas, so I missed not being here. It took me about six months to get back into the swing of things when we got back, and now I'm racing well again."

A win at Buffalo Springs and a fifth place finish at Ironman New Zealand, where he qualified for this year's Ironman World Triathlon Championship, certainly attest to Bonney's conditioning of late.

So as usual, Bonney led from start to finish as he claimed his sixth Boerne title in 1 hour, 55 minutes, 1 second. Fellow Austinite Brandon Marsh, 27, who was chasing Bonney closely during the run and much of the bike, finished second in 1:56:24. Kristofer Larsen, 29, of Austin, finished third place in 1:56:46. Roger Wacker, 42, of Houston, was the top master in 1:58:47.

Melissa Ruthven, 34, of Austin, was the top womens finisher in 2:12:15, followed by runner-up Tracy Harrison, 38, of Plano, who finished at 2:15:09.

"I got out of the water in second, and I was catching up slowly throughout the run," said Ruthven, who will compete in the ITU World Duathlon Championship in Alpharetta, Ga., in October. "When I started the bike leg, the officials told me that I was the second place female. I was able to pass her (Harrison) a few miles later on the bike."

Elizabeth Lesauvage, 23, of Tyler, was third in 2:21:30. Jennifer Reinhart, 43, of Austin, was the top womens master in 2:23:52.

Stephen Turner was the top Clydesdale finisher in 2:02:10. Debra Williams won the Athena division in 2:46:01. The top relay, which was comprised of Michael Shelton, Gabe Luciudo and Larry Czelusta, finished in 1:51:23.