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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. Stamfords Megan Kelly won her age group to lead the way for Connecticut triathletes in the USA Triathlon Sprint National Championship Sunday in Burlington, Vt.
Beatrice Burns of Hamden and Kelly were the only state athletes to win their age groups over two days of racing. On Saturday, the nations top triathletes also raced in an Olympic distance event. Burns, competing in the 70-74 age division for women, won both events.
Kelly, 33, finished seventh in her age group last year just 15 weeks after giving birth to triplets. She finished Sundays race in 1:08:24, nearly 13 minutes faster than in 2011. The Greenwich native was also fifth overall. The race consisted of a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) bike ride and 5K (3.1-mile) run.
Kelly, a former swimmer who works for Targetraining, had the fastest swim time and the second fastest bike split in her age group. She ran 21:46 for the 5K, an average of 7:01 per mile, and had the eighth fastest time in her age group.
Running is definitely my weakest leg, she said. I just try to hold on for dear life. The first half-mile had a huge hill, and Im a horrible hill runner. But Im really happy with how the race went.
The age group victory qualified Kelly for the 2013 age group world championships in London. She will also compete in this years age group championships in October in New Zealand.
My goal going in was to place in the Top 3 in my age group and Top 10 overall, Kelly said. I was pleased with the outcome. The girls that were ahead of me were very young. And they dont have kids yet.
Other notable performances by Fairfield County athletes in the sprint distance event at the age group nationals included Hannah Goodrick, Darien, ninth in the womens 19-and-under age group; Marcus Russi, Westport, 15th in the men's 19-and-under age group; Logan Blaine, Old Greenwich, 28th, men's 19-and-under age group; Daniel Cassidy, Wilton, 24th, men's 20-24 age group; Nick Logan, Norwalk, ninth, men's 30-34 age group; Lydia Heilman, Fairfield, 10th, women's 35-39 age group; Lauren Weymouth, Ridgefield, 17th, women's 35-39 age group; Karen Newman, Old Greenwich, fifth, womens 50-54 age group; and Kim Driscoll, Fairfield, 29th, women's 50-54 age group.
In the Olympic distance, Joe Turscani of Darien was the third state finisher and 23rd in the mens 35-39 age group. He finished 154th overall out of 1,988 finishers. Greg Behar of Wilton was 18th in the mens 40-44 age group; Reenie Parker, Greenwich, 14th, womens 50-54 age group; Greenwichs Katha Diddel-Warren, 24th, womens 55-59 age group; Cos Cobs Michael Christie, third, mens 55-59 age group; and Stamfords John Cook, fourth, mens 75-79 age group. Logan also competed in both races and was 178th in the Olympic distance and 30th in the 30-34 age group.
Complete results are available online.
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