Belgium’s Joerie Vansteelant Wins ITU Duathlon World Championships
Team Richmond Wins Big in Age Group Events

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Posted Saturday, 20 October, 2007

Richmond, VA –With thoughts of his dead brother urging him on, Belgian Duathlete Joerie Vansteelant cruised to a dominating victory in the men’s pro elite race at the McDonald’s ITU Duathlon World Championships here today.

“The second half of the race, he was certainly on my mind,” said Vansteelant, 25, who won the run-bike-run event contested by 350 athletes from 25 countries. Benny Vansteelant died on September 14th from injuries sustained when he was hit by a car on a training ride near his home in Tourhout, Belgium. At the time, the 30-year-old was the world champion and the world’s most celebrated duathlete.

Joerie Vansteelant covered Richmond’s technically challenging course, which consisted of a 9.2 mile run, a 47.2-mile bike, and a 4.6-mile run, in 3 hours 6 minutes 42 seconds. Spaniard Javier Garcia was second (3:13:03). Koen Maris, also of Belgium, was third (3:13:22).

“I wanted to go quite fast the first run to pull the race open and make it an individual race,” said Vansteelant, whose first place share of the $25,000 prize list was $6,250.

Great Britain went one-two in the women’s elite division as Catriona Morrison took first place in (3:34:56) and Michelle Lee (3:40:05) was second. Yvonne Van Vlerken, of the Netherlands, was third (3:43:43).

“I knew I had a large gap on the bike in the last lap, and I was able to relax,” said Morrison, who was second in the long course duathlon world championships last year behind Van Vlerken. “It was pleasantly surprised that the course was so technical. I really enjoyed it. And Richmond is very, very pretty, especially this time of year.”

Another athlete who was pleasantly surprised was Richmond’s Cory Scott, 20, who discovered that he was the world champion in the 20-24 year old age group division after finishing in 3:28:12, good enough for fourth overall amongst all male age groupers. “This is the second duathlon I’ve done,” said Scott, whose first duathlon attempt qualified him to compete in the world championships. One of 33 Virginians who raced, Scott said the hometown course was a definite advantage. “It seemed like the community really came out to support us,” he said.

In addition to Scott, two other Richmond age group athletes – Terri Miffleton and Adam Otstot – won their age group world championships. That makes three Richmonders who are now duathlon world champions.

And Richmond’s pro elite hope, Tom Jeffrey, the current national champion, pulled out of the race with a flat tire. “I was in fifth place,” said Jeffrey. “I rode it for a couple of miles, but it was so unstable, there was nothing I could do. I started going down the hill to the Nickel Bridge and thought I was going to crash.”

Though he took third in the men’s 35-39 age group, Richmond’s John Hessian, acknowledged the event’s grueling toll. “I feel like I’m 57 right now,” said John Hessian, 37, a Richmond age group athlete who finished in 3:38:45.

“It was an emotional day here in Richmond,” said Jon Lugbill, executive director of the Sports Backers and organizer of the McDonald’s ITU Duathlon World Championships. “These inspiring athletes made it a great event for us all.”

Men’s Elite Pro
1. Joerie Vansteelant, Belgium, 3:06:42
2. Javier Garcia, Spain, 3:13:03
3. Koen Maris, Belgium, 3:13:22
4. Kenneth Rasmussen, Denmark, 3:14:55
5. Aksel Nielsen, Denmark, 3:15:33
6. Armand Van Der Smissen, The Netherlands, 3:16:44
7. Vincent Aldebert, France, 3:17:20
8. Chris Fischer, Denmark, 3:18:19
9. Rob Woestenborghs, Belgium, 3:18:38
10. Oliver Mott, Great Britain, 3:19:05

Women’s Elite Pro
1. Catriona Morrison, Great Britain, 3:34:56
2. Michelle Lee, Great Britain, 3;40:05
3. Yvonne Van Vlerken, The Netherlands, 3:43:43
4. Lucy Smith, Canada, 3:45:11
5. Ulrike Schwabe, Germany, 3:45:25
6. Joan Blaafoss, Denmark, 3:47:36
7. Isabelle Ferrer, France, 3:47:42
8. Kathryn Kashishke, United States, 3:50:19
9. Gabriel Hnilkova-Jenks, United States, 3:50:43
10. Michelle Parsons, Great Britain, 3:53:43

Team Richmond Men
Cory Scott, 1st 20-24, 3:28:12
Adam Otstot, 1st 25-29, 3:31:23
John Hessian, 3rd, 35-39, 3:38:45
Thomas Waldrop, 3rd, 60-64, 3:59:27
Gene White, 4th, 70-74, 5:10:41
Brian Bortell, 6th, 40-44, 3:40:44
Tyler Van Rensselaer, 9th, 30-34, 3:43:47
Marty Stiegmann, 13th, 45-49, 3:52:10
Francois Fabiato, 15th, 35-39, 3:50:43

Team Richmond Women
Terri Miffleton, 1st, 55-59, 4:56:59
Cherie Fernandez, 6th, 40-44, 4:17:15
Wendy Alexander, 7th, 35-39, 4:35:54
Sally Fraser, 13th, 40-44, 4:34:25

For more information call Sports Backers Communications Director Mike McCormick at 804-901-9047.

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