(Concord, NC - September 27, 2009) Kevin O'Connor capped his brilliant multiple-award-nomination-worthy season with a podium finish at the rain-pelted ITU World Duathlon Championships in Concord, NC on Sunday. Placing 2nd in his 35-39 AG, Kevin finished 9th overall. The last time a Minnesota multisporter cracked the Top 10 at a World Championship was in 2000, when two-time US. Female Duathlete of the Year Kristin Miller placed 5th (1st 35-39W) at Du Worlds in Calais, France.Kevin covered the technical (48 turns on the 40K bike route!) 10K - 40K - 5K route in 1:47:23.
His splits were 33:29 - 54:49! - 17:33.
Two Minnesotans raced in the pro competition. Duluth's Marlo McGaver was the first female American and 16th overall. Her time was 2:12:31, 4:13 behind winner Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic. St. Paul's David Thompson finished 24th (1:51:04) in the men's race, which was won by U.S. Olympic triathlete Jerrod Shoemaker.
MINNESOTA FINISHERS: Women
* Katie Anderson (Mahtomedi) - 21st 20-24W - 2:27:08
* Tara Croteau (Duluth) - 5th 30-34W - 26th woman overall - 2:08:09
* Tracie Kent (St. Paul) - 13th 35-39W - 42nd woman overall - 2:11:36
* Jill Hughes (Medina) - 21st 35-39W - 2:19:58
* Sonja Daniels (Duluth) - 28th 35-39W - 2:39:33
* Jeanne Fleck (Proctor) - 4th 40-44W - 19th woman overall - 2:06:51
* Heidi Robb (Maple Grove) - 14th 40-44W - 2:20:41
* Amy Woolsey (Sauk Rapids) - 21st 40-44 - 2:29:46
* Denise Baxter (St. Cloud) - 21st 50-54W - 3:02:38
* Pam Stevens (Sartell) - 5th 55-59W - 2:26:27
* Ann Rhea (Plymouth) - 9th 60-64W - 3:06:15
* Jean Wood (Excelsior) - 12th 60-64W - 3:34:28
MINNESOTA FINISHERS: Men
* John Heinlein III (Stillwater) - 16th 20-24M - 1:56:21
* Kyle Fleener (Austin) - 24th 25-29M - 1:57:48
* Michael Wente (Minneapolis) - 26th 30-34M - 2:05:35
* Kevin O'Connor (Medina) - 2nd 35-39M - 9th overall! - 1:47:23
* Dereck Podratz (Lino Lakes) - 25th 35-39M - 2:00:26
* Todd Firebaugh (Woodbury) - 6th 45-49M - 63rd overall - 1:53:42
* James Hannon (Rochester) - 9th 50-54M - 2:00:42
* Rick Christenson (Roseville) - 23rd 50-54M - 2:08:05
* Ken Mogren (Winona) - 14th 60-64M - 2:15:42
* Charles Rhea (Plymouth) - 30th 60-64M - 2:54:31
* Hank Larsen (Glencoe) - 7th 65-69M - 2:24:03
* Bob Bailey (Woodbury) - 9th 65-69M - 2:27:52
Great photography from Paul Phillips of Competitive Image coming soon.
USAT Press Release.
