Run-Bike-Ski: Champions Crowned in Colorado at 2024 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon & Duathlon National Championships
by USA Triathlon
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — Winter triathlon athletes raced in Breckenridge, Colorado, on Feb. 23-25 to kick off the 2024 USA Triathlon National Championship season at the 2024 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon and Duathlon National Championships. The Breckebeiner, hosted by the organizers of the Breck Epic at the Gold Run Nordic Center, featured the run-ski Winter Duathlon National Championships and the run-bike-ski Winter Triathlon National Championships.
The Gold Run Nordic Center course featured 30 kilometers of world-class groomed cross-country ski trails. The run course took place on the Silver Star trail route, while the bike was a loop on the Straights, Dyer and Gold Run trails. The ski course took place north of the finish line on the Buffalo, Flats and Bronco Dave trail routes.
The three-day event featured six races:
- Winter Duathlon National Championships Sprint (3k run, 6k ski) and Intermediate (6k run, 12k ski)
- Winter Triathlon National Championships Sprint (3k run, 5k bike, 5k ski) and Intermediate (6k run, 10k bike, 10k ski)
- Breckebeiner Nordic Marathon and Half Marathon (31k ski and 15.5k ski)
Colorado local and XTERRA triathlon world champion Josiah Middaugh (Vail, CO) won the men’s Elite Winter Triathlon Intermediate-Distance national title. A longtime triathlete who specialized in off-road triathlon for much of his career, Middaugh encouraged multisport athletes to give winter triathlon a try.
“I think come out and give it a shot. Don’t worry if you’re not strong in one area, nobody is and that’s the beauty of it,” said Middaugh, who has two sons (Sullivan and Porter) who are members of USA Triathlon’s elite development training squad, Project Podium.
Molly Hummel (Santa Fe, NM) and Taylor Shelden (Breckenridge, CO) won the women’s and men’s Winter Triathlon Intermediate-Distance national titles, both winning their races in dominant fashion by over five minutes.
Peter Valentyik (Boulder, CO) skied his way to first place for the men’s Winter Triathlon Sprint-Distance national title, while Annika Peacock took home the women’s title in her first winter triathlon race.
“It’s a little bit different and there aren’t many people, but the people that are [winter triathlon] athletes are just really good people,” Peacock said. “You get to have fun in the snow, so what more could you ask for really?”
Omar Bermejo (Evansville, WY) won the men’s Para national title in the Winter Triathlon Sprint-Distance race.
Kicking off Winter Nationals on Friday was the Winter Duathlon National Championships, with Austria’s Katja Krenn winning the Elite Sprint title.
Colorado residents dominated the Age Group Sprint and Intermediate Duathlon categories, with Deanna McCurdy (Littleton, CO) and Stephen Eles (Boulder, CO) leading the field in the Age Group Duathlon Sprint division, and Dominique Stasulli (Boulder, CO) and Morgan Elliott (Breckenridge, CO) winning the Age Group Intermediate Duathlon event.
“This was my first winter triathlon and I love it. It’s such a great mix from the standard training that you do year-round — and it’s out here in Colorado. I said let’s just try it!” McCurdy said of her first winter multisport event.
Christine Wodke (Milwaukee, Wis.) won the women's Para national title in the Winter Duathlon Sprint-Distance race.
Top finishers in each age group earned the opportunity to represent Team USA at the World Triathlon Winter Championships. To learn more about Team USA, comprised of the nation’s top amateur multisport athletes who represent the U.S. at World Triathlon Age Group Championships, visit www.usatriathlon.org/our-community/age-group-team-usa.
Winter Triathlon Intermediate-Distance National Championships
6k run, 10k bike, 10k cross-country ski
Male Elite Overall: Josiah Middaugh (Vail, CO), 1:15:54
Male Overall: Taylor Shelden (Breckenridge, CO), 1:22:37
Female Overall: Molly Hummel (Santa Fe, NM), 1:36:37
M25-29: Luke Herron (Edwards, CO), 1:26:05
F25-29: Jessica Drake (Greeley, CO), 2:43:05
F30-34: Betsy Hochman (Park City, UT), 1:50:18
F35-39: Caitlin Standfier (Boulder, CO), 1:42:42
M35-39: Taylor Shelden (Breckenridge, CO), 1:22:37
F40-44: Molly Hummel (Santa Fe, NM), 1:36:37
F45-49: Sarah Peltier (Superior, CO), 2:08:03
M45-49: Shane Vetter (Colorado Springs, CO), 1:39:24
F50-54: Deanna McCurdy (Littleton, CO) 1:44:29
M50-54: Mike Preston (Crested Butte, CO), 1:42:16
F55-59: Patricia Smaldone (Portland, OR), 2:25:45
M55-59: Rick Zimmerman (Morrison, CO), 1:44:19
F60-64: Sharon McDowell-Larsen (Grand Junction, CO), 1:50:57
M60-64: Brent Peacock (Jackson, WY), 1:30:39
F65-69: Elizabeth Kollar (Colorado Springs, CO) 2:56:34
M70-74: Dawes Wilson (Vail, CO) 2:07:23
Winter Triathlon Sprint-Distance National Championships
3k run, 5k bike, 5k cross-country ski
Male Overall: Peter Valentiyk (Boulder, CO), 43:36
Female Overall: Annika Peacock (Jackson, WY), 55:30
PC Open: Omar Bermejo (Evansville, WY), 1:00:27
F20-24: Annika Peacock (Jackson, WY), 55:30
F25-29: Cynthia Jennings (Aurora, CO), 57:45
M25-29: Tommy McClellan-Willard (Primos, PA), 48:42
F30-34: Hannah Driskel (Conklin, NY), 1:12:11
M35-39: Hans Almekinders (Bend, OR), 1:12:56
F40-44: Heather Perkins (Eads, TN), 1:14:33
F50-54: Jennifer Kron (Washington, DC), 1:33:52
M50-54: Neal Henderson (Boulder, CO), 53:05
F55-59: Mary Alfidi (Naples, FL), 1:49:23
M55-59: Peter Valentiyk (Boulder, CO), :43:36
F60-64: Andrea Young (Pittsburgh, PA), 1:32:56
M60-64: Marc Harrison (Salt Lake City, UT), 55:54
F65-69: Gunilla Gard (Kerrville, TX), 1:10:35
M65-69: Russell Asleson (Colorado Springs, CO), 59:16
F70-74: Sally Almekinders (Chapel Hill, NC), 2:00:13
M70-74: Kurt Dallow (Silverthorne, CO), 1:05:54
F75-79: Martha Iverson (Durango, CO), 1:26:58
M75-79: Richard Baginski (Durango, CO), 1:39:55
Winter Triathlon Intermediate-Distance Duathlon National Championships
6k run, 12k cross-country ski
Male Overall: Morgan Elliott (Breckenridge, CO), 1:04:08
Female Overall: Dominique Stasulli (Boulder, CO), 1:16:45
M30-34: Morgan Elliott (Breckenridge, CO), 1:04:08
F30-34: Dominique Stasulli (Boulder, CO), 1:16:45
F35-39: Heather Kelzer (Anchorage, AK), 1:25:30
M35-39: Benjamin Kopecky (Denver, CO), 1:55:12
F40-44: Michelle Smith (Glenwood Springs, CO), 1:25:50
F45-49: Victoria Brumfield (Colorado Springs, CO), 2:25:03
M45-49: Stephen Eles (Boulder, CO), 1:09:07
M50-54: Claude Brun (Bellevue, WA), 2:44:09
F55-59: Patricia Smaldone (Portland, OR), 2:05:56
M55-59: Marvin Wang (Jamaica Plain, MA), 1:19:50
F60-64: Sharon McDowell-Larsen (Grand Junction, CO), 1:29:49
M60-64: Brent Peacock (Jackson, WY), 1:17:45
M65-69: George Pierce (Bend, OR), 1:48:04
Winter Triathlon Sprint-Distance Duathlon National Championships
3k run, 6k cross-country ski
Female Elite Overall: Katja Krenn (Sankt Ruprecht, Austria), 43:45
Male Overall: Stephen Eles (Boulder, CO), 34:35
Female Overall: Deanna McCurdy (Littleton, CO), 41:14
PC Open: Christine Wodke (Milwaukee, WI), 1:32:44
F18-19: Hailey McCurdy (Littleton, CO), 51:41
F20-24: Annika Peacock (Jackson, WY), 46:29
F35-39: Katie Whidden (Lakewood, CO), 51:53
M35-39: Hans Almekinders (Bend, OR), 1:03:47
F40-44: Heather Perkins (Eads, TN), 1:13:47
M40-44: Chris Mosier (Chicago, IL), 1:03:22
M45-49: Stephen Eles (Boulder, CO), 34:35
F50-54: Deanna McCurdy (Littleton, CO), 41:14
M50-54: Adam Hodges (Boulder, CO), 39:01
F55-59: Patricia Smaldone (Portland, OR), 6:04:14
M55-59: Travis Wales (Springville, CA), 54:41
F60-64: Robin Dicesare (Colorado Springs, CO), 51:16
M60-64: Brent Peacock (Jackson, WY), 40:08
F65-69: Gunilla Gard (Kerrville, TX), 1:01:16
M65-69: James Aust (Sunbury, OH), 52:43
F70-74: Ruth King (Ambler, PA), 1:15:50
M70-74: Kurt Dallow (Silverthorne, CO), 52:53
F75-79: Barbara Kosnter (Lakewood, CO), 2:16:50
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 races and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).