Courtesy: USAT

Eight Team USA age group athletes earned medals - including five first place finishes - at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long Course Duathlon World Championships in Fredericia, Denmark on Sunday, May 28.

The team, supported by USA Triathlon, consisted of 35 age group athletes and seven elites, who competed in the 15k run, 90k bike, and 7.5k run event.

Earning World Championship titles were Hugo Spinoza (Hurst, Texas; male 18-19), Melisa Aguilar (Austin, Texas; female 20- 24), Kate Schulte (Knoxville, Tenn.; female 40-44), Jeff Terry (Birmingham, Ala.; male 40-44), and Sharon Roggenbuck (Hillsborough, N.C.; female 65-69). Silver medalists included Leslie Smith (Garland, Texas; female 35-39) and Barb Kostner (Lakewood, Colo.; female 55-59), while Anne Mitchell (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.; female 50-54) followed her 2005 world title with a bronze medal.

On the elite side, Andrea Ratkovic (Norman, Okla.) was the top American woman for the second-straight year, earning the podium with a third-place finish, just three-and-a-half minutes behind winner Yvonne Van Vlerken of the Netherlands. Reigning U.S. short course national champion Tom Jeffrey (Richmond, Va.) grabbed 10th overall for the men, with Belgian Benny Vansteelant defending his title.

The age group race began with a mass start of all 350 competitors on the three-loop first run. Jeff Terry was in the lead after the first lap and came into transition 2nd overall, only a few seconds behind the eventual 1st place overall amateur athlete. When the athletes got out on the bike portion the wind picked up, the temperature cooled, and an intermittent rain began.

"The weather conditions were challenging, but every competitor had to deal with the same thing," said Team USA/Duathlon Coordinator Troy Stiles. "The team really had a sense of togetherness and camaraderie throughout the week. It was a great experience and everyone is excited for the 2007 World Championships in Richmond, Virginia."