Courtesy: USAT

Duathletes Tom Jeffrey and Briana Boehmer took home U.S. elite national titles at the USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships on Saturday in Mason, Ohio, while Chuck Sloan and Kiera Karas took the overall age group titles on Sunday.

A former elite marathoner, Jeffrey (Richmond, Va.), 33, finished fourth overall, completing the 10k run, 40k bike, and 5k run in 1:44:22. Trailing fellow American Kevin Danahy (Rehoboth, Del.), 31, coming out of T-2, Jeffrey used a strong second run to surge ahead. Ryan Guiliano (Schaumberg, Ill.), 22, was the third American across the line overall and took the U23 national title as the top U.S. finisher in that category.

Three Europeans battled it out for the top spot, with 22-year- old Belgian Bart Aernouts taking the overall title in 1:41:55. Countryman Joerie Vansteelant, 24, a two-time U23 world champion, finished in 1:41:14, with last year's ITU world champion Anthony LeDuey, 33, of France taking third in 1:41:22. The three were part of a group of seven who ran the opening 10k in blistering 4:50 pace. They surged away from the chase pack in the bike, finishing the 40k course close to a minute ahead of the next closest competitor (Jeffrey).

In the women's elite race, this year's third-place finisher at the European Duathlon Championships, Helen Lawrence (England), 30, outpaced the field from the start, jumping out to a quick lead and finishing in 1:58:43. Boehmer (Ixonia, Wis.), 28, a former Division I runner at University of Colorado and Wisconsin, teamed with Canadian Shari Boyle on the bike to try to catch Lawrence, but the tandem were actually overtaken by Anne Preisig (Falmouth, Mass.), 38, and Kathryn Kasischke (San Diego, Calif.), 30, before T-2. Boehmer and Boyle regained their advantage after the first lap of the 5k and Boehmer was able to edge Boyle by six seconds, finishing in 2:01:42. Kasischke turned in a time of 2:02:44 to finish as the second American and fourth overall.

Jeffrey, Danahy, Derek Kite (Colorado Springs, Colo.), David Thompson (Minneapolis, Minn.), Boehmer, Kasischke, Preisig, and Christine Knight (Dacano, Colo.) all qualified for the 2006 ITU Duathlon World Championships on July 29-30 in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada.

The age group race featured 361 athletes, representing 35 states. For the men, Sloan (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 29, grabbed the overall age group national title with a time of 1:53:42. Jeff Miller (Lewistown, Pa.), 39, was second in 1:56:34, and Greg Rouault (Broken Arrow, Okla.) was third in 1:57:07.

In the women's race, Karas (Columbus, Ohio), 30, took top honors with a time of 2:10:06. Laura Igoe (Lockport, N.Y.), 36, was second in 2:11:39, and Sarah Kolpin (Madison, Wisc.), 25, finished in third with a time of 2:12:34.

The top 12 finishers in each age group qualified for the duathlon world championships in Corner Brook. Slots roll down to the top 20.

Adam Alter (W. Lafayette, Ind.), 15, and Caki Buckthal (W. Amarillo, Texas), 16, won the boys' and girls' junior elite races, respectively, both of which consisted of a 3.1 mile run, a 12.4-mile bike and a 1.55 mile run. Buckthal, who finished in 1:23:14, was the only finisher among the girls. Alter finished in 1:04:49, with Kyle Mattison taking second in 1:05:22. Buckthal and Alter each qualified for the ITU Duathlon World Championships.

2006 Age Group National Duathlon Champions
Men
Overall: Chuck Sloan, 29

Masters: Jeff Terry, 44

Grandmasters: Larry Czelusta, 60

Clydesdale: Gregory Partamian, 49

Physically Challenged: Christopher Stockel, 37

20-24: Ryan French, 24

25-29: Chuck Sloan, 29

30-34: Scott Myers, 31

35-39: Jeff Miller, 39

40-44: Jeff Terry, 44

45-49: Steve Pyle, 48

50-54: Curt Eggers, 50

55-59: Jean-Pierre Bacle, 56

60-64: Larry Czelusta, 60

65-69: John Elliott, 68

70-74: Roger Brockenbrough, 72

75-79: Al Treichel, 77

80-over: Edwin Bixenstine, 80

Women

Overall: Kiera Karas, 30

Masters: Kristin Villopoto, 46

Grandmasters: Anne Viviani, 57

Athena: Erika Binger, 34

20-24: Melisa Aguilar, 23

25-29: Sarah Kolpin, 23

30-34: Kiera Karas, 30

35-39: Laura Igoe, 36

40-44: Lori Goldweber, 43

45-49: Kristin Villipoto, 46

50-54: Karen McKeachie, 53

55-59: Anne Viviani, 57

60-64: Heysoon Lee, 62

65-69: Judy Carroll, 65

70-74: Pat Fossum, 71

75-over: None