By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Triathlon Team Captain
Ed Note: After an amazing 2014 season, including 37 podiums with 11 first place finishes, the multi-sport team is looking to return in 2015, stronger and better, promising even more podiums. We spoke with Captain Roxane Kippen to get a preview of what we can expect in the upcoming year.
This year looks to be another podium packed year for the members of OAM NOW’s Multi-sport Team and I’m proud to introduce our 2015 roster. Our team members range in age from 20 years old to flirting-with-retirement, and each decade in between is well represented. We are a diverse group, made up of teachers, students, attorneys, finance, and IT and engineering professionals. A healthy balance of all life has to offer is important to us.
On top of things like work, med school (Kaitlyn), vet school (Elaine), a new baby (congrats Erin), family, and other worthy causes, we find time to train, race and promote active lifestyles by volunteering in our communities!
Returning Members
Alex Vanias
Amy Kimber
Cheryl Sherwood
Chuck Grzanka
Cricket Howard
Erin Young
Kaitlyn Patterson
Mike Steele
Raquel Torres
Robyn Kaiser
Roxane Kippen
Todd Anthes
New Teammates
Elaine Sheikh
2014 was a very successful season for Team OAM Now triathletes. Check out our blogs from 2014 for some great race recaps. In 2014, our multi-sport team had 12 athletes who competed in 24 different triathlon events beginning as early as March with Indoor Triathlon and ending with late season races into September, for a total of 50 triathlon finishes.
Of the 50 finishes, 75% resulted in top 3 podiums. There were 37 podiums, including 11 first place overall finishes including Alex at Tri del Sol, Kaitlyn at MI Titanium and Boyne City Tri, Raquel at Grand Rapids Tri and Seahorse Challenge , Roxane at XTERRA Ionia and Little Traverse Tri and a very strong final season for Kathy Kirk in the Aquabike with 4 Overall Wins, including MI Titanium.
This year, we have a solid race schedule which includes several team races, where we encourage as many team members as possible to participate to promote team building and provide great visibility for our sponsors. In addition to the team race schedule below, several teammates have some pretty big “A races” slotted for this season. Alex, Cheryl, and Todd are looking to conquer another iron distance race this year. Elaine is targeting USAT Collegiate Nationals, USAT Age Group Nationals and the World Sprint Championships and Roxane is focused on USAT Off-road Nationals and XTERRA Nationals. Raquel continues to race the ITU circuit and has already begun her season, racing in South American ITU events to add to her qualifying points to earn a spot representing the Dominican Republic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Follow her on the road to Brazil on our blog.
2015 Team Race Schedule
5/24/2015
Bear Lake Triathlon
North Muskegon
6/14/2015
Grand Rapids Triathlon
Grand Rapids
6/27/2015
Lumberman Triathlon
Cadillac
6/27/2015
Gull Lake Triathlon
Hickory Corners
7/18/2015
Tri del Sol
Middleville
8/1/2015
Millennium Triathlon
Grand Rapids
8/23/2015
Michigan Titanium
Grand Rapids
9/12/2015
Reeds Lake Triathlon
E Grand Rapids
As a team we have a common goal to balance work, life and sport. As Mike writes in his blog, we are a family and love to share in each other’s successes and encourage each other through challenges and setbacks. While we always enjoy being on the podium, the journey is more often a larger victory. We are thankful we have such great sponsors that support us in doing what we love and allow us to be proud stewards of the sport. We’re looking forward to another fantastic year!
