USA Triathlon has announced its 2019 Age Group Triathletes of the Year presented by Wahoo Fitness, as selected by USA Triathlon’s Age Group Committee.
Headlining the honorees are Lee Walther (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Dani Fischer (Greenfield, Ind.), who were named men’s and women’s Overall Age Group Triathletes of the Year, respectively.
“I don’t feel worthy of this award, as there are so many fantastic triathletes in our country. To be singled out for this award is very humbling,” Lee Walther said. “I have been lucky … my main obstacle has been to believe that I could do it.”
Dani Fischer said, “Even though this is an individual award, I could not have done it without the love and support of my team, Tri Loco (based in Indianapolis). Triathlon has brought some pretty incredible people into my life.”
For the second year, Triathlete of the Year awards also featured an Open category. This award recognizes the top performers in general age group competition (vs. a junior, masters or grand masters category). Fischer doubled as the women’s Open Triathlete of the Year, while Travis Wood (Boise, Idaho) was named Open Triathlete of the Year for men.
The 2019 USA Triathlon Age Group Triathletes of the Year and honorable mention selections are as follows:
Men’s Overall Age-Group Triathlete of the Year: Lee Walther (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Women’s Overall Age-Group Triathlete of the Year: Dani Fischer (Greenfield, Ind.)
Men’s Open Age-Group Triathlete of the Year: Travis Wood (Boise, Idaho)
Honorable Mentions: Christopher Douglas (Atlanta, Ga.), Justin Lippert (Middletown, N.J.), Matthew Malone (Boulder, Colo.), Roy Madrid (Boulder, Colo.), Eric Engel (Madison, Wis.)
Women’s Open Age-Group Triathlete of the Year: Dani Fischer (Greenfield, Ind.)
Honorable Mentions: Grace Alexander (Atlanta, Ga.), Gabrielle Bunten (Forest Lake, Minn.), Jacqui Giuliano (Oakwood Hills, Ill.), Stefanie Cullingford (Monroe, Conn.), Meghan Fillnow (Charlotte, N.C.)
Men’s Junior Triathlete of the Year: Connor Reichel (Corydon, Ind.)
Honorable Mention: Zane Grenoble (Playa Del Rey, Calif.)
Women’s Junior Triathlete of the Year: Nicole Collins (San Dimas, Calif.)
Honorable Mention: Chloe Ramirez (Leesburg, Va.)
Men’s Masters Triathlete of the Year: Lee Walther (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Ferreira da Silva Neto (Austin, Texas), Daniel Stubleski (Point Pleasant, N.J.), Clint Dowd (Goffstown, N.H.), Robert Skaggs (Solana Beach, Calif.), Kirk Framke (Denver, Colo.)
Women’s Masters Triathlete of the Year: Ginger Reiner (Lincoln, Mass.)
Honorable Mentions: Kirsten Sass (McKenzie, Tenn.), Adrienne LeBlanc (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Karen Wood (Waxhaw, N.C.), Becky Youngblood, Steph Popelar (Elizabeth, Colo.)
Men’s Grand Masters Triathlete of the Year: Mike Wien (Marietta, Ga.)
Honorable Mentions: Douglas Hill (Tacoma, Wash.), John Arnold, Ron Gierut (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Jeff Reed (Norwich, Vt.), Greg Taylor (Yankton, S.D.)
Karen McKeachie Women’s Grand Masters Triathlete of the Year: Linda Robb (Juno Beach, Fla.)
Honorable Mentions: Leslie Knibb (Washington, D.C.), Maureen McDonald (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), Mary Catherine Malin (Arlington, Va.), Kelly Dippold (Irvine, Calif.), Donna Smyers (Adamant, Vt.)
Men’s Great Grand Masters Triathlete of the Year: John Gregory (Roanoke, Va.)
Honorable Mentions: Al Truscott (Gig Harbor, Wash.), Robert Plant (Woodside, Calif.), Tim Hughes (Lake Forest, Calif.)
Women’s Great Grand Masters Triathlete of the Year: Missy LeStrange (Visalia, Calif.)
Honorable Mentions: Sibyl Jacobson (New York, N.Y.), Carol Hassel (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Cecilia Brzys (South Lyon, Mich.)
Men’s Off-Road Age-Group Triathlete of the Year: Mike Dorr (Avon, Colo.)
Honorable Mention: Cliff Millemann (Davis, Calif.)
Women’s Off-Road Age-Group Triathlete of the Year: Jennifer Razee (Edwards, Colo.)
Honorable Mention: Beverly Enslow (Metamora, Ill.)
