Courtesy: event press release

Twenty-eight-year old Margaret Shapiro of Annandale, Virginia and Christopher Martin, 30, of Princeton Junction, NJ earned the title "2005 Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathletes" by besting a Who's Who field consisting of one man and one woman from each state, in this first-ever Championship competition. State representatives won qualifying races in their home states earlier in the year to earn the right to race head-to-head in the non-age-graded Championship. Approximately 30 states were represented by one or more athletes.

Placing second were Craig Greenslit, 35, of Colorado and Lotte Branigan, 37, of Florida. Brian Bich, 39, Duluth, MN and Lt. Col. Heidi Grimm of Steilacom, Washington took third.

"I wasn't sure about coming to the Championship," said Shapiro. "But when I talked with organizers about the athletes and competition that would be here, I decided I had to come."

The event also featured a Fastest State Competition, determined by combining the times of the man and woman from each state. The Top 3 Teams were Colorado [Wendy Mader and Craig Greenslit], Florida [Lotte Branigan and John Reback] and Washington [Heidi Grimm and Chris Tremonte]. A post-race adjustment affected the top teams as well as the women's Top 10. Colorado's Wendy Mader lost her timing chip and was not initially scored.

The USAT Official's ruling allowed her time from the back-up system to count, recording her actual sixth place finish and launching Colorado to the top of the Team Competition.

"The athletes' response to this Championship concept has been overwhelming," said Best of the U.S. Executive Director Trudy Marshall. "What a turnout, and what a show they put on for us!"

The Championship was hosted this year by the Timberman Triathlon Festival, the 2004 USAT Large race of the Year. The Championship race consisted of a 1K swim, 15 mile bike and 4 mile run.

Best of the US National Championship, August 20, Gilford, NH
(1K swim, 15 mile bike, 4 mile run)
Weather: Overcast, 65-70 degrees

MEN: 1. Christopher Martin, 30, NJ, 1:15:04; 2. Craig Greenslit, 35, CO, 1:15:15; 3. Brian Bich, 39, MN, 1:15:35; 4. Bruce Gennari, 39, TN, 1:16:02; 5. Jim Vance, 28, CA, 1:16:34; 6. Scott Myers, 30, OH, 1:16:52; 7. Kevin Everett, 30, ID, 1:17:24; 8. John Reback, 35, FL, 1:17:32; 9. David Silver, 25, GA, 1:17:38; 10. Mike Morrison, 31, IA, 1:17:57.

WOMEN: 1. Margaret Shapiro, 28, VA, 1:20:54; 2. Lotte Branigan, 30, FL, 1:22:37; 3. Heidi Grimm, 37, WA, 1:22:43; 4. Donna Kay-Ness, 42, CT, 1:23:12; 5. Christen King, 28, CA, 1:24:15; 6. Wendy Mader, 32, CO, 1:24:59; 7. Bree Wee, 25, HI, 1:25:21, 8.Emily Deppe, 25, MN, 1:25:29; 9. Cynthia Bannink, 28, WI, 1:25:37; 10. Randy Swormstedt, 34, NH, 1:27:22.

FASTEST STATES: 1. Colorado (Craig Greenslit & Wendy Mader), 2. Florida (John Reback & Lotte Branigan), 3. Washington (Chris Tremonte & Heidi Grimm), 4. California (Jim Vance & Christen King), 5. Minnesota (Brian Bich & Emily Deppe), 6. Virginia (Michael Harlow & Margie Shapiro), 7. Wisconsin (Mike Meteyer & Cynthia Bannink), 8. Tennessee (Bruce Gennari & Shelby Sheffield), 9. Ohio (Scott & Andrea Myers, 10. Hawaii (Peter Hursty & Bree Wee).