Clydesdale and Athena divisions give larger triathletes a chance to medal

Flyweights are often the best triathletes. When you're running the last leg of a triathlon, it helps if you're only carrying 130 pounds instead of 200 pounds. And that's exactly why the Athena division for women and the Clydesdale division for men have evolved over the years in triathlon.

USA Triathlon's Age Group National Championship, which was held at Henry Hagg Lake near Portland, Ore., in June, had Athena and Clydesdale divisions for the Olympic-distance triathlon: 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run.

Mike Shaffer, a 42-year-old environmental consultant from Ventura, Calif., won the men's 40-plus Clydesdale division. He completed the course in 2:11:41, a remarkable time for a big man. He finished just 14 minutes, 33 seconds behind the overall winner, Ben Collins of Lake Forest Park, Wash. Shaffer, who is 205 pounds, said, "I can hold my own in the swim and the bike," he said. "It's the run that's a struggle."

Kerry Deputy, a bartender from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., won the women's 40-plus Athena division. The 46-year-old negotiated the course in 2:53:24. She finished less than 44 minutes behind the overall women's winner Jennifer Garrison of Naperville, Ill. Deputy's goal is to move out of the Athena division. She's lost 45 pounds since she started triathlon. "I just got into triathlon about three and a half years ago and I've been losing weight ever since," she said.

USA Triathlon's Age Group National Champions
Henry Hagg Lake, Ore.
June 30, 2007

Overall male: Ben Collins (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) (1:57:08)
Overall female: Jennifer Garrison (Naperville, Ill.) (2:09:36)
Male Master (40+): Brian Bich (Duluth, Minn.) (1:58:48)
Female Master (40+): Tracy Orcutt (Seattle, Wash.) (2:13:06)
Male Grandmaster (60+): Steven Smith (Granger, Ind.) (2:19:46)
Female Grandmaster (60+): Lauren Binder (Portland, Ore.) (2:38:05)
F30-34: Rachel Ross (Honolulu) (2:13:40)
M35-39: Craig Greenslit (Berthoud, Colo.) (1:58:56)
F35-39: Stacey Richardson (Chapel Hill, N.C.) (2:12:41)
M40-44: Brian Bich (Duluth, Minn.) (1:58:48)
F40-44: Tracy Orcutt (Seattle) (2:13:06)
M45-49: Tony Schiller (Chanhassen, Minn.) (2:02:24)
F45-49: Holly Nybo (Portola Valley, Calif.) (2:17:23)
M50-54: Kevin Moats (Atlanta) (2:08:57)
F50-54: Bridget Dawson (Portland, Ore.) (2:22:57)
M55-59: Jim Bruskewitz (Madison, Wis.) (2:12:05)
F55-59: Sandi Wiebe (Vancouver, Wash.) (2:38:27)
M60-64: Steven Smith (Granger, Ind.) (2:19:46)
F60-64: Lauren Binder (Portland, Ore.) (2:38:05)
M65-69: Ted Pierce (Post Falls, Idaho) (2:33:57)
F65-69: Jan Miller (Green Valley, Ariz.) (3:00:02)
M70-74: Jon Adamson (Alpharetta, Ga.) (2:35:07)
F70-74: Susan Bradley Cox (Lexington, Ky.) (3:11:23)
M75-79: Lew Hollander (Bend, Ore.) (3:01:20)
F75-79: Madonna Buder (Spokane, Wash.) (3:50:37)
M80+: Charley French (Ketchum, Idaho) (3:03:32)
Clydesdale 40 and Over: Mike Shaffer (Ventura, Calif.) (2:11:41)
Athena 40 and Over: Kerry Deputy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (2:53:24)