Record number of athletes, spectators mark annual race

by Greg Clementi
Sports Editor

The 21st annual Full Vineman Triathlon was renewed on Saturday, providing the ultimate test of will and endurance for those fit and brave enough to tackle the challenge.

This year’s race, run in conjunction with Barb’s Race, and an Aqua-Bike, drew more than 700 participating athletes, a record number for the event. 

The oldest continuously run full Ironman triathlon in the continental US, the Vineman began in Guerneville with a 2.4-mile swim, continued with a 112-mile bike ride through Sonoma County, and ended with a 26.2-mile marathon run. The marathon consisted of three loops of 8.7 miles, beginning and ending at Windsor High School.  

Scoring their first Full Vineman victories in the men and women’s races respectively were 25-year-old Max Biessmann of Irvine, California, and 38-year-old Teri Albertazzi of Tucson, Arizona.

While cool temperatures greeted Vineman starters at dawn in Guerneville, warm conditions during the last half of the race proved the undoing for many of the top athletes.

The men’s race provided plenty of drama, as one of the favorites, Staffan Westerberg, surged into the lead early in the bike segment. Westerberg led Biessmann by 13 minutes and had a 17-minute cushion on former Vineman champ David Glover. Meanwhile, two-time defending champion Dan Arlandson was forced to drop out, further changing the dynamics of the race.

Biessmann took the lead for a good 10 kilometers into the 26.2-mile run, as Westerberg succumbed to the warm conditions. Glover would get within about four minutes of the lead, but Biessmann had plenty left in cruising to victory in a time of 9:21 to claim sole possession of a $4,000 bonus for finishing in under 9:30.  

“I was just hoping for a good race, and wanted to execute the best I could,” said Biessmann. “The wheels started coming off on the run so I was getting a little worried coming in, but overall I felt pretty good.” 

Rounding out the top five men’s finishers were Keish Doi (9:31:57), Glover (9:40:57), Matt Zanger (10:46), Andrew Minck (10:08:48). Windsor’s Jady Palko, 37, turned in a great effort to garner eighth place in 10:16:55.  

The women’s Full Vineman race was equally suspenseful, as Albertazzi passed South Africa’s Kathryn du Buisson at the beginning of lap two of the three-lap marathon run and never looked back in powering to a relatively easy victory.

Albertazzi produced a methodical race, slowly chipping away at an early, 16-minute deficit before eventually passing du Buisson nine miles into the run. It was clear sailing from there, as she cruised to victory in 10:59:01.

Joining Albertazzi on the women’s podium were Deborah Battaglia (11:08:22), Darcy Bushnell (11:10:59), Janie Hayes (11:20:09), Zolia Herrera (11:30:15), and Kathryn Throoln (11:35:35). 



Local athletes shine

Other notable local Full Vineman finishers included Healdsburg’s Ross Anderson (11:22:14), Windsor’s Donovan Quinn (12:15:26), Clay Popko of Sebastopol (12:57:09), and Sebastopol’s own Carmen Sinigiani (15:03:15).

The Full Vineman men’s relay team comprised of Healdsburg residents Eric Johannsen, Glen Mitchell and Sean McKenzie took second overall in 10:16:55, while Healdsburg’s mixed relay team of Jana Harrison, Scott Kerson, and Brenda Phelps were also second in 10:11:27.   

Forestville’s Leslie Shaw captured fourth overall in the women’s Aqua-Bike in 6:57:22. Other locals included Windsor residents Patrick Krueger (6:59:14), and Troy Tuscher (7:44:29). 

Windsor’s Dan Taylor finished the Half-Vineman Aqua-Bike in 3:57:45, followed by Sebastopol’s Catrina Dierke (4:43:25), Windsor’s Julie Krueger (4:51:08), and Guerneville’s David Youngberg (5:27:09). 

Results for all Vineman races are available online at www.vineman.com.  

Barb’s Race goes over $433,000 mark

Saturday marked the 10th running of  Barb’s Race, the only all-women’s half triathlon distance contested in the world. The annual event has been a huge success since its inception, raising over $433,000 for local cancer charities. 

This year’s 10th anniversary event featured a “survivor’s category,” as five women in pink caps went off in the first wave of racers, with four of the five crossing the finish line in Windsor.

“I continue to be inspired by the strength and commitment of the women who participate,” said race founder and cancer survivor Barbara Recchia. “As one of our racers so eloquently put it, ‘Barb’s Race brings women together, supporting each other, as we bring hope to others.’  For me, this is the essence of Barb’s Race,” she added.   

The 2010 Barb’s Race champion was 24-year-old Cal Berkeley student Erika Erickson, who crossed the finish line in a record time of 4:47:10, providing her with a comfortable, 12-minute margin of victory.

“I wanted to win, but my goal coming in was just to break five hours,” said Erickson, citing a pre-race talk by Recchia as added incentive. “I was really touched listening to Barb talk on Friday, she is so inspirational.”

Rounding out the top five Barb’s Race finishers were Joanne Gilchrist (4:59:52), Lisa Heisinger (5:00:44), Gayle Gajus (5:04:20), and Heidi Spees (5:04:55).    

Top local Barb’s Race finishers included Healdsburg’s Erin O’Dwyer (6:12:15), and Ciara Meaney (7:07:19), and Graton’s Carol Livramento (8:09:07).