By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM NOW Triathlete
Mike Steele
August has been a busy month of racing, so far, for Team OAM NOW triathletes. The podium pace set earlier in the season has not slowed down. Over the last three weekends, tri team members have raced in six different events and reigned in multiple podium finishes.
August started off with beautiful weather for the Millennium Triathlon in Grand Rapids, MI. After finishing on the podium at XTERRA Ionia Offroad Triathlon the week before, Mike Steele and Roxane Kippen, put away the mountain bikes and got back on their time trial bikes for another great race. Mike finished 2nd in his age group in the Olympic distance race and Roxane finished 1st in her age group in the Sprint distance event.
That same weekend, Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson entered the hunt for a big cash payout in the Elite race at The Experience Triathlon in Frankenmuth, MI. The pro/elite field was a strong one and included national level professional triathletes. Alex and Kaitlyn both finished 5th overall in their respective fields and pedaled their way to the 2nd fastest overall bike splits of the day. We are very excited to see these two continue to grow in the sport!
Chuck Grzanka tuned up his swim by competing in the Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl. He is fortunate to be able to train in the clean, clear and usually chilly waters of Little Traverse Bay, where this event was held. Chuck finished 1st in his age group and 3rd overall in the one mile, wetsuit division.
Chuck Grzanka
On August 10th, the city of Battle Creek, home of Kellogg’s, hosted the Cereal City Triathlon. This was a sprint distance event consisting 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike and 5 kilometer run. Paul Raynes finished on the podium, 3rd in his age group. Mark Olson finished 4th in his age group and posted the 3rd fastest overall bike split of the day. Matt Gunderson, in his first year of triathlon, finished 6th in his age group.
This past weekend, Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson raced the Detroit Triathlon, a draft-legal U25 Elite Development race in Detroit, MI. This was the first draft legal triathlon for both Alex and Kaitlyn and a good opportunity for more exposure in the pro/elite arena. Look for a blog to come about the experience.
And last, but not least, Chuck Grzanka was at it again, up north at the Traverse City Triathlon where he competed in the Olympic distance race. He finished 1st in his age group and made great improvements in his swim and run times from the previous year’s event. Congratulations Chuck!
Team OAM NOW triathletes are up next at the MI Titanium full and half triathlon in Grand Rapids, MI on August 24. Come on out to Versluis Park to cheer them on!
