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|  Lessing, Reback reach Tri Boston podium September 3, 2002 Courtesy: USAT
Great Britain's Simon Lessing used his powerful run and Laura
Reback powered through Boston Harbor on Sunday to win at The
Monster Challenge: Tri Boston, an International Triathlon Union
(ITU) points race sponsored by Monster (r), the leading global
online careers property and flagship brand of TMP Worldwide
Inc., and organized by the AIDS Action Committee of
Massachusetts.
The race, in one of America's most historic cities, began and
ended at Boston's World Trade Center and had extra significance
for the U.S. athletes, as it served as the qualifier for the ITU
World Triathlon Championships in November in Cancun, Mexico.
However, Lessing wasn't about to let the Americans win this one.
The Brit trailed only Joe Umphenour (Belleview, Wash.) as they
left the two-lap swim. After a fast transition inside the World
Trade Center, the two left on their bikes, chased by a large
pack.
Chris Moffatt of Great Britain and Matthew Clark of Australia
broke away from the pack on the bike and entered transition
ahead of Umphenour and Seth Wealing (Remington, Ind.). They were
followed closely by another group, consisting of Lessing, Paul
Amey of Great Britain and Camilo and Gilberto Gonzalez of
Venezuela.
"There was a pretty big group on the bike, so I knew it was
going to come down to a running race," Lessing said.
Lessing made quick work of the leaders on the run, which he
finished in 27 minutes, 50 seconds to win the race in 1:41:41.
Amey, who won The Monster Challenge in 2001, finished second in
1:42:07 and Australia's Craig Alexander was third in 1:42:14.
Umphenour, who had already secured a spot on the worlds team by
virtue of being ranked No. 2 in the United States, was the top
American in Boston, finishing in fifth in 1:42:26. Hunter Kemper
(Longwood, Fla.), who is ranked No. 1 in the United States, had
also secured his spot and did not race on Sunday. "(My coach) told me to go very hard on the swim and be proactive
on the bike," Umphenour said. "The run started very fast. I
hoped to pull in Simon, but he was long gone."
Those who will join Kemper and Umphenour on the U.S. men's team
for world's are Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla.), Victor
Plata (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Mark Fretta (Portland, Ore.)
and Andy Kelsey (Los Altos, Calif.).
In the women's race, Reback (North Palm Beach, Fla.) was under
pressure to place high in order to make the U.S. world
championships team. She got some help from U.S. teammate Sheila
Taormina (Livonia, Mich.), who had already secured her spot on
the team.
"If she wasn't here, it would have been a lot tougher," Reback
said of Taormina. "She pushed the pace on the swim and on the
bike was taking longer pulls."
Taormina led Reback out of the swim along with Americans Joanna
Zeiger (Baltimore, Md.), Kelly Handel (Zionsville, Ind.) and
Becky Gibbs (San Jose, Calif.). A flat tire coming out of
transition slowed down Zeiger, who placed third at last year's
world championships. She continued the race and finished 17th.
Reback and Taormina worked together to get 1:45 ahead of the
bike chase pack. Then, as she was leaving the transition to the
run, Taormina dropped her race number and had to stop briefly,
allowing Reback to take a short lead that she didn't give up.
Reback won the race in 1:52:33. Taormina was second 1:53:45 and
Kelly Handel was third in 1:53:53. All three will be on the
women's world team along with Siri Lindley (Boulder, Colo.),
Barb Lindquist (Victor, Idaho) and Jenny Marine (Naperville,
Ill.).
The age group race at The Monster Challenge: Tri Boston, was
sprint distance and a fund-raiser for the AIDS Action Committee
of Massachusetts. Each participant raised at least $750 for New
England's leading AIDS service, education and advocacy
organization.
Patrick Dwyer (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) won the men's age group
race in 1:02:42 and Laura Koerckel (Cambridge, Mass.) won the
women's race in 1:04:47.
For more information and complete results from the pro race, go
to www.triathlon.org.
The Monster Challenge: Tri Boston
Pro Men
Pro Women
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