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Rustman Triathlon
2007 Results
There were 18 individual contestants and 16 teams at RustMan 28 on
30-APR-2007.
It was a slow bike course this year due to rain. This was visible in
the bike times of veteran contestants.
The Men's overall winner was Jon Jahnke in 2:20:48. Jon is a High
School Teacher, new to Kwajalein this year.
The Women's overall winner was Virginia Mack in 2:41:57. Virginia is
an X-Ray Technician, also new to Kwajalein this year.
Interestingly, both Jahnke and Mack are in the Masters Division
(40+), but were also the overall winners. This is the 2nd time in 28
annual events that this has happened for the men and women both (it
happened in 2004 also). The middle aged runners have become more
dominant in recent years.
Maggie Greenwood who is visiting from Guam finished in 2:57:50,
lowering the Female "Seniors" (50 and over) record of 3:10:41 set back
in 1994. The solo contestant field included a 2nd visitor, Stephanie
Los, who sailed in to Kwajalein Harbor on a long distance cruising
sailboat earlier in April.
For the first time in several years, a contestant chose to do a
Purist RustMan . . . using a one speed "Kwaj Bike". Mike Savage did his
first RustMan ever in 3:05:26.
The first team to finish consisted of Justin DeCoster, Brian Brewster
& Abe Stores in 2:14:58.
Julianne Kirchner and Michael Taylor from Kwajalein Jr.-Sr. High
School were well ahead out of the water together in an impressive 13:48
swim segment. They swam hard and then tied intentionally, joining arms
to cross the swim finish line.
After doing the run segment on teams for the prior five RustMan
events and improving that time each year, RustMan promoter Doug Hepler
has now done the "whole enchilada" in 3:11:40. Doug gradually peeled
off ~50 lbs. of body weight over that 5-year period leading up to
Monday's personal triumph.
Longer term Kwaj residents Amanda Curtis, Pam Tinker Johnson and
Sarah Stepchew finally decided to do RustMan for the first time in 2007.
The USAKA Commander, COL Stevenson L. Reed ran for a team. This is
the first year that a USAKA Commander has been a contestant in any way
at RustMan.
Ladies winner, Virginia Mack gave an impromptu "Sportsmanship" award
to co-contestant Mary Miller, by placing her winner's flower lei around
Mary's neck during the awards presentation. Mary had witnessed
Virginia's bike crash near Bldg. 1010 (Range Command) and stopped
immediately to assist. This, despite Mary being competitive in nature
and wanting to possibly beat her prior RustMan time of 2:48:02, done in
2002. Virginia crashed after running into a water bottle in the road
that had fallen from the bike of another contestant. Virginia had a
road rashed & bruised elbow and forearm when she crossed the finish
line.
One contestant was dehydrated enough to require some IV fluids, but
was fine the next day.
Congratulations to all RustMan 28 contestants!
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