Vineman 70.3, another half ironman race that no longer yields Ironman World Championship qualifying slots. The Vineman series has an interesting history with the WTC, as the owner of IMHI is now known. The original Full Vineman was one of the early Hawaii qualifiers, and a valid one at that, considering the course, except possibly the swim, and the extreme heat usually encountered in Santa Rosa in July. The full Vineman was curiously dropped as a Hawaii qualifier and the Half Vineman became the new possible ticket to Kona. Whether a result of poor politics or a substandard swim course, one where some swimmers walk around the course reversal bouys, I won't mention any names here, the WTC anointed the Half Vineman a 70.3 Clearwater qualifier. The Half does continue to offer a pro prize purse, however, and consistently draws a well stacked pro field. However, a trend is developing on the road to Kona, few Half Ironman events yield Kona slots and some of the remaining stalwarts have had their Kona slots devalued, for example, the California 70.3, in Oceanside now offers less than one Kona slot per age group and for 2009, age groups will be combined for slot consideration.
Very little feedback is available today on the conditions encountered this year at the race starting in Guerneville, however based on past events, it was most likely quite warm and the course as challenging as usual. Last years pro winners, Craig Alexander and Samantha McGlone did not prevail, as Terenzo Bozzone, of Wildflower, 2007, fame and Joanna Zeiger, took top pro honors. Steve Larsen appeared again, as a semi retired pro, and placed a close third behind Craig Alexander. Bozzone's ride and run were his strengths, as they were at his Wildflower win. Listed below are the results of our local finishers. VB
Vineman Female Finishers
Name, loc, age, m/f, total time, div plc, etc
------------------------------------------
Stouffer, Andrea Santa Barbara, CA 39 F 5:19:10.8 19 swim ( 0:29:55.2 ) t1 ( 0:02:35.8 ) bike ( 4:45:10.1 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:51:05.8 )
Mandes, Sarah Goleta, CA 30 F 5:37:43.0 37 swim ( 0:36:38.0 ) t1 ( 0:03:10.3 ) bike ( 3:24:02.2 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:34:54.1
Braden, Cindy Goleta, CA 45 F 5:44:11.8 14 swim ( 0:28:13.5 ) t1 ( 0:03:02.8 ) bike ( 5:11:08.2 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:04:34.9 )
Rudd, Elda Santa Barbara, CA 39 F 5:45:12.5 41 swim ( 0:42:52.1 ) t1 ( 0:03:39.6 ) bike ( 3:11:21.9 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:48:31.5 )
Cholawsky, Elizabeth Santa Barbara, CA 52 F 6:17:56.0 10 swim ( 0:43:48.3 ) t1 ( 0:04:05.6 ) bike ( 3:14:29.7 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:16:45.8 )
Schnyer, Marie Santa Barbara, CA 36 F 6:28:31.9 85 swim ( 0:40:27.5 ) t1 ( 0:04:15.3 ) bike ( 3:26:29.3 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:18:46.1 )
Barrett, Linda Santa Barbara, CA 60 F 7:00:04.2 3 swim ( 0:46:00.5 ) t1 ( 0:05:19.1 ) bike ( 3:39:34.5 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:30:30.2 )
Vineman Male Finishers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harrit, David Goleta, CA 22 M 4:52:15.5 9 swim ( 0:27:02.4 ) t1 ( 0:02:04.3 ) bike ( 4:21:27.0 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:53:24.7 )
Nelson, John Santa Barbara, CA 52 M 5:15:45.8 13 swim ( 0:31:16.6 ) t1 ( 0:03:53.8 ) bike ( 4:38:43.2 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:50:24.1 )
Neilson, Peter Santa Barbara, CA 36 M 5:19:56.1 90 swim ( 0:31:54.4 ) t1 ( 0:03:27.8 ) bike ( 4:43:18.8 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:42:25.1 )
Maxwell, Gary Santa Barbara, CA 58 M 5:25:57.6 7 swim ( 0:41:38.4 ) t1 ( 0:03:19.9 ) bike ( 4:39:26.1 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 1:53:18.2 )
Roberts, Sandy Santa Barbara, CA 61 M 5:49:09.2 14 swim ( 0:42:51.1 ) t1 ( 0:04:36.1 ) bike ( 3:00:15.2 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:02:37.7 )
Schmidt, Jason Goleta, CA 23 M 6:08:33.4 29 swim ( 0:35:33.8 ) t1 ( 0:05:18.7 ) bike ( 3:12:00.3 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:16:53.7 )
Black, Doug Santa Barbara, CA 50 M 6:13:29.5 42 swim ( 0:40:34.6 ) t1 ( 0:06:04.7 ) bike ( 3:05:43.6 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:22:40.1 )
Travis, Ed Lompoc, CA 72 M 7:07:09.2 1 swim ( 0:42:59.7 ) t1 ( 0:05:34.1 ) bike ( 3:26:45.8 ) t2 ( -- ) run ( 2:53:24.2 )
Some more Vineman 70.3 news, courtesy of xtri.com. It appears that the conditions were more favorable than the usual hot, hot landscape. VB
It was a who's who of pro triathletes at the Vineman 70.3 in Sonoma County on Sunday: Craig Alexander, Chris Legh, Terenzo Bozzone, Chris Lieto, Joanna Zeiger, Sam McGlone, Tyler Stewart and XTERRA pro Melanie McQuaid were just a sample of the athletes who lined up. Race morning saw favorable conditions, with an air temp of 53 degrees and water at 72.
Leading out of the swim was Matt Clark with a time of 22 minutes, followed by TJ Tollakson, Alexander, Bozzone, Chris and Matt Lieto and Joanna Zeiger. Once on the bike, cycling powerhouse Steve Larson put a deficit of 3 minutes into the field over the rolling terrain. Bozzone and Alexander were 5 minutes back as they entered T2, but by the halfway point of the run they were numbers one and two, respectively, with Alexander :10 back.
It was Terenzo's day though, as he cruised to a new course record of 3:49:10. Alexander was second in 3:51, and Larson held off the field for third in 3:53.
On the women's side, Zeiger was first out of the water as she exited with the pro men, and she never relinquished that lead all day. At one point of the run, the hard-charging Stewart had decreased that deficit to mere seconds. Although Zeiger was dealing with GI issues towards the end, she gutted it out for the win in 4:19:58. Stewart got second in 4:20:20, and Sam McGlone claimed third in 4:24:08.