NANCY, France — Laura Kline, Kristin Villopoto, Corinna Goodman and Edwin Bixenstine raced their way to age group world titles, and Team USA combined to win 13 total medals Sunday at the ITU Duathlon World Championships. In all, 160 U.S. age-groupers were in action in the world’s top run-bike-run event.
Winner of the women’s 35-39 age group, Kline (Quarryville, Pa.) earned her first career ITU world title in the day’s fastest overall women’s time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 1 second on the 10-kilometer run, 40-kilometer bike, 5-kilometer run course. She outdistanced U.S. teammate and defending 35-39 world champion Gail Kattouf (Greenville, S.C.), who was second in 2:08:01 to claim her fourth career ITU Duathlon World Championships medal.
Villopoto (Chapel Hill, N.C.) earned the women’s 50-54 title in 2:19:03 to win her fourth career world title and second straight after winning the women’s 50-54 sprint-distance crown a year ago.
Making her world championships debut, Goodman (Oro Valley, Ariz.) won the women’s 70-74 age group title in 2:46:52. She took the national title in her age group in April 2012 at USA Triathlon’s Duathlon Nationals in her hometown.
Bixenstine (Kent, Ohio) won the men’s 85-89 age group in 3:21:53 to earn his seventh consecutive ITU Duathlon World Championships title and his second straight in the 85-89 age group.
In addition to the quartet of world titles, Team USA earned seven silver and two bronze medals. Repeat medalists from 2011 included Kattouf, Heather Leach (55-59, Seattle, Wash.) and Scott Hajicek (55-59, Lakewood, Colo.).
The 160 age-groupers competing in Nancy qualified for Team USA with a top-18 finish (rolling down to 25th place) at April’s 2012 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championship in Oro Valley, Ariz. Team USA is comprised of amateur athletes who represent the U.S. at each ITU World Championship event. Visitusatriathlon.org for more on Team USA in Nancy, including a complete roster.
2012 ITU Duathlon World Championships – Complete Results
(10k run, 40k bike, 5k run)
United States Age Group Medalists
Women’s 35-39
1. Laura Kline (Quarryville, Pa.), 2:06:01
2. Gail Kattouf (Greenville, S.C.), 2:08:01
Women’s 40-44
2. Nicole Sin Quee (New York, N.Y.), 2:14:24
Women’s 45-49
3. Kirsten Chapman (Edmond, Okla.), 2:13:26
Women’s 50-54
1. Kristin Villopoto (Chapel Hill, N.C.), 2:19:03
Women’s 55-59
2. Heather Leach (Seattle, Wash.), 2:24:54
Men’s 55-59
2. Scott Hajicek (Lakewood, Colo.), 2:04:42
Men’s 60-64
2. Keith Woodward (Stowe, Vt.), 2:11:02
Women’s 65-69
3. Nancy Mallon (Denver, Colo.), 3:01:01
Women’s 70-74
1. Corinna Goodman (Oro Valley, Ariz.), 2:46:52
Men’s 70-74
2. William Logan (Perryville, Mo.), 2:29:53
Women’s 75-79
2. Margaret Bomberg (Chico, Calif.), 5:09:26
Men’s 85-89
1. Edwin Bixenstine (Kent, Ohio), 3:21:53
About USA Triathlon
Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon – one of the fastest growing sports in the world – as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. USA Triathlon sanctions 4,000 races and connects with more than 150,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including ITU World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the International Triathlon Union and the United States Olympic Committee.
