Nova Masters Swimming (Orange County, CA)

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - Nova Triathlon Team members Dan Neyenhuis and Michael Collins placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in their age group at the ITU World Aquathlon Championships held December 2, 2003. A total of 52 women and 92 men completed the event. The format of the event was changed from the normal format of a 2.5k Run-1k Swim-2.5k Run, to a 1k Swim-5k Run due to the need to wear wetsuits in the extremely cold Lake Wakatipu. The water temperature was a bone chilling 11 degrees Celsius (52 degrees Fahrenheit). The swim course was a 2-lap box in the calm but cold waters of Lake Wakatipu followed by a technical 3 lap cross country style run through the adjacent park. Another change this year was that the organizers decided not to run the elites in a separate wave or separate them out in the results. There was one women's heat and one men's heat. Prize money was given to the top 3 overall finishers and age group results were posted (which included the elites), but disappointingly, no age group awards were given as has been done in the past. Although no Americans placed in the top 3 overall (the top American female was Linda Gallo, 6th overall; and top American male was Brendon O'Brien, 15th overall), Team USA dominated the top 3 positions in most of the age groups. Of 32 top 3 finishes in the Women's race, USA took 18, including 5 age group wins. Great Britain was the next closest with 7 top 3 finishes and 3 age group victories. In the men's race, Americans took 12 of the 31 top 3 places including victories in 5 age groups. The host country, New Zealand, finished closest with 5 top 3 places and 2 age group victories. Of the total 63 top 3 placings USA accounted for nearly half with 30! Full Results can be found at: http://www.poprunresults.co.nz/

SHREVEPORT, LA - Eight Nova members competed at the USA Triathlon Olympic Distance Nationals and World Championship Qualifier race held October 4th in Shreveport, LA. Dan Neyenhuis, Christen King, & Michael Collins each qualified for the 2004 ITU World Triathlon Championships which will be held on the island of Madera off the coast of Portugal. Also competing were Jenifer Padilla, Kristen Thorkelson, Mark Haskins, Dana Ryan, & John Ryan. King qualified for her first World Championships by placing 14th in the 25-29 women's category. She emerged from the water approximately 30th after having difficulties removing her wetsuit but flew threw much of the field with the second fastest overall female bike split and held her own on the run. Neyenhuis placed 6th in the 55-59, but is at the top of his age group and will compete in the 60-64 age group at the World Championships next year. Dan emerged 3rd overall from the water in his heat of 55+ males, and after a strong bike he was very pleased with his run since injuries have kept him from running for the last several months. Collins placed 13th overall out of the largest field ever at a USA Triathlon Nationals with 1,325 competitors. He was the first overall finisher from California and finished 4th in the highly competitive 35-39 age group (1:58:49). He ran 36:21 off the bike which was over 3 minutes faster than last year when he lost 7 places on the run and ended up 14th in his age group. Jenifer Padilla is on the bubble for a spot to the World's next year as she has to see if she gets a roll-down spot past the 15 deep automatic spots. John and Dana Ryan were both competing in their very first Nationals and both finished respectably in the top half of their age group despite being at the top of the age group before aging up next year. Kristen Thorkelson and Mark Haskins also had strong races in a very deep field of the nations top triathletes. The course was flat and fast and wetsuits were allowed as the water temp dropped about 10 degrees in the shallow lake in less than a week. The weather was very mild and nice but led to congestion on the bike due to so many equal ability athletes on the course which resulted in several penalties for positioning violations (drafting or blocking). Here are the Nova team results including splits. 4 682 Michael Collins M3539 19:50 1:47 59:43 1:10 36:21 1:58:49 38 476 John Ryan M4044 27:11 2:18 1:01:20 1:10 44:32 2:16:29 6 99 Dan Neyenhuis M5559 23:53 2:40 1:07:58 1:52 46:19 2:00 2:24:39 73 648 Mark Haskins M3539 26:25 3:10 1:07:31 1:36 46:53 2:00 2:27:33 14 546 Christen King F2529 25:43 2:51 1:02:31 1:22 44:41 2:17:06 17 311 Jenifer Padilla F3034 27:02 2:30 1:08:29 1:15 39:59 2:19:13 24 323 Kristen Thorkelson F3034 27:51 2:13 1:08:02 1:10 43:27 2:22:41 24 809 Dana Ryan F4044 23:28 3:04 1:09:32 1:55 48:59 2:26:56 Click the title of this message to go to the official results page.

Upcoming events as well as links to race info and registration can be found on the following two calendars: Nova Masters Calendar Nova Triathlon Calendar ========================================================== UPCOMING CLINICS & CAMPS SWIMMING CLINICS Click HERE for our most recent list of upcoming Nova Swim Clinics Coach Mike will be teaching two 8 week Swimming Technique for Triathletes Classes through the City of Irvine Class #1: Tue Nights. 6:30-8pm Jan 11 - March 1 Class #2: Thu Nights. 6:30-8pm Jan 13 - Mar 3 To register for the class by phone call: 949-724-6610 CYCLING CLINICS Mar 9-13 Solvang Century Cycling Camp Private cycling lessons and bike fits using the F.I.S.T. system also available by emailing Coach Mike RUNNING CLINICS No Clinics currently scheduled. Check back soon for updated schedule. Private running lessons featuring the Pose MethodTM, including video analysis, are available by emailing Coach Mike TRIATHLON CLINICS Jan 19-23 Multisports.com Club Med Triathlon Camp Feb 2-6 Multisports.com San Diego Winter Camp Feb 18-20 Multisports OC Palm Springs Triathlon Camp Feb 25-27 Multisports.com IM Arizona Camp June 10-12 Multisports.com IM Lake Placid Camp July 15-17 Multisports.com IM Wisconsin Camp Sept 16-18 Multisports.com IM Lake Placid Camp Private lessons also available by emailing Coach Mike

LONG BEACH, CA - At least 15 Nova Swimmers participated in the 2nd Annual Long Beach Sprint Triathlon on September 21, 2003. The race consisted of a 1/2 mile swim, 13 mile bike, and 3 mile run. Masters Coach, Michael Collins was the first Nova finisher and 2nd overall, (up from 3rd in 2002), when he outsprinted the 3rd place finisher Kevein Bree by just 2 seconds. Karl Mosch was the second Nova finisher on his way to 5th in the highly competitive 55-59 age group which was separated by less than a minute between 2nd and 6th. Impressive results in the women's field came from Monique V. (2nd in 40-44), Michelle Staffon (2nd in 45-49), and Libby Deschenes (2nd in 50-54) riding on a VERY old bike complete with a kickstand! Nova Learn To Swim Leader Ginny Flahive finished an impressive 4th in her first tri ever. Below are the Nova Results or you can get full results at: http://www.pacificsportsllc.com/LongBeach/LBResults.html MEN CATEGORY PLACE OVERALL NAME AGE WAVE CITY TIME MALE ELITE 2 2 MICHAEL COLLINS 37 1 IRVINE 1:01:22 MALE 55-59 5 152 KARL MOSCH 56 9 LAGUNA BEACH 1:18:24 MALE 45-49 11 172 GREGORY STAFFON 45 7 LAGUNA NIGUEL 1:19:32 MALE 45-49 19 224 MARK MCCARTIN 48 7 LAGUNA NIGUEL 1:21:52 MALE 40-44 36 308 DAVID HAYWARD 43 7 TUSTIN 1:25:22 MALE 15-16 3 421 CASEY MCCARTIN 15 6 LAGUNA NIGUEL 1:29:41 MALE 16-17 5 384 SHAUN MCCARTIN 16 6 LAGUNA NIGUEL 1:28:21 MALE 50-54 14 472 ED ESCANO 54 9 IRVINE 1:31:42 WOMEN CATEGORY PLACE OVERALL NAME AGE WAVE CITY TIME FEMALE 40-44 2 162 MONIQUE VAN_ZEEBROECK 42 8 IRVINE 1:19:01 FEMALE 45-49 2 206 MICHELLE STAFFON 45 8 LAGUNA NIGUEL 1:20:54 FEMALE 35-39 6 265 NATALIE BARRAD 38 3 ALISO VIEJO 1:23:38 FEMALE 45-49 4 286 GINNY FLAHIVE 48 8 FOUNTAIN VALLEY 1:24:25 FEMALE 35-39 11 351 ANNIE PEDRON 38 3 ALISO VIEJO 1:27:12 FEMALE 50-54 2 397 ELIZABETH DESCHENES 50 8 ORANGE 1:28:51 FEMALE 40-44 18 601 MIRIAM LAIRD 43 3 SAN JUAN CAPIST 1:36:54

SAN DIEGO, CA - Irvine Novaquatics Head Masters Coach, Michael Collins was one of the recipients of the 2003 Dorothy Donnelly United States Masters Swimming Service Award presented at the 2003 United States Aquatic Sports Convention held in San Diego September 10-13, 2003. The award is given to "those whose service has been outstanding in it's scope, their impact on the program, and the number of members who have benefited from their efforts on the local, regional, and national level." Collins involvement in USMS has included being the National Coaches Committee Chair, LMSC Coaches Chair, and a member of several other national committees including Planning, Officials, and Rules. In 2003 he hosted a National Mentor Coach and Swimmer Clinic as well as giving presentations at several clinics, the American Swimming Coaches Association World Clinic, and the USAS Convention. Collins has previously been recognized as the USMS Coach of the Year in 1990, and the Pacific LMSC Coach of the Year in 1991, and the SPMA Coach of the year in 2002. Collins is also featured on the cover of the lastest issue of Swim Magazine (Sept/Oct 2003) along with a feature article titled "A Leader By Example" which you can view by clicking the title of this message.