logo for duathlete of the year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon today announced its 2021 Age Group Duathletes of the Year presented by Wahoo Fitness, as selected by USA Triathlon’s Multisport Committee. Headlining the run-bike-run honorees are Cassidy Hickey (Parker, Colo.) and Adoh Doherty (Taunton, Mass.), who were named Women’s and Men’s Overall Age Group Duathletes of the Year, respectively.

Also earning Junior Women’s Duathlete of the Year honors, Hickey, 18, won the Non-Drafting Sprint Distance National Title at the 2021 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala.. She also placed second in the Draft-Legal Sprint Distance race. Hickey is a member of the Colorado Mesa University cycling team, and she placed fifth in the U23 division at the 2021 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships.

“It feels so amazing to win this award. I have really loved being more involved in the duathlon community and a whole other side to the sport that I love,” Hickey said.

Doherty, 26, also shined at Duathlon National Championships in 2021, winning the Draft-Legal Sprint Distance National Title and finishing third in the Standard-Distance race.

“This award is a blessing and it motivates me for the upcoming year of racing. I thank God for giving me strength to do the sport I love,” said Doherty, who offered his advice for fellow multipart athletes. “I was taught that nothing worthwhile is easy. Embrace the pain and don’t give up when it gets hard because on the other end of this grind is success.”

Seventeen-year-old Luke Moore (Arlington, Texas) was named the Junior Men’s Duathlete of the Year. He placed second in his age group at Duathlon National Championships, and eighth overall in the Draft-Legal Sprint Distance race. Moore represented age group Team USA at Duathlon World Championships in Aviles, Spain, where he placed 11th. He’s looking forward to racing at the inaugural USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival April 28-May 1 in Irving, Texas, which encompasses six of USA Triathlon’s National Championship events, including the Duathlon National Championships.

“If I can make it to Romania for the 2022 Duathlon World Championship, I look forward to representing Team USA and reaching the podium,” Moore said.

Kirsten Sass (McKenzie, Tenn.) and Gene Severtson (Crofton, Md.) were named the men’s and women’s Masters Duathletes of the Year.

Sass, 42, earned the national title in the Standard-Distance race at Duathlon National Championships and placed third overall, first Masters, in the Draft-Legal Sprint. Sass also guided Elite Paratriathlete Amy Dixon (PTVI classification) at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

“I am very honored to win this award. It is always a huge compliment to be recognized for something I love to do,” Sass said.

A longtime triathlete, Severtson, 45, tried racing duathlon for the first time in 2021and placed ninth in the Standard-Distance race at Duathlon National Championships, first Masters. He is coached by Jim Felty and is a part of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports program.

“Multisport extended my endurance sports career as the wear and tear of being a lifetime runner was taking its toll on my body,” Severtson said “Little did I know, multisport would put me in better shape and make me a better runner than when I was exclusively running. I tried my hand at duathlon for the first time in 2021 and I thought I'd be successful since it focused on my two best disciplines of triathlon. I love it.”

In the men’s Grand Masters Duathlete category, Paul Greenberg (Westport, Conn.) earned top honors. Greenberg, 60, won his age group national title at Duathlon National Championships and the overall duathlon title at both the Atlantic City Triathlon and the Seaside Sprint.

Jodie Bolt (Lakewood, Wash.), was named the Anne Viviani Women’s Grand Masters Duathlete of the year. The 2021 season was a comeback year for Bolt, 58, as she raced seven duathlons following orthopedic surgery and rehab in 2019-2020. She won her age group national title at Duathlon National Championships in Tuscaloosa and Long Course Duathlon National Championships in Stony Point, N.Y.. Bolt is a part of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports program. The award is named in honor of Viviani, a longtime successful multisport athlete who for years raced for age group Team USA at world championship events.

Patty Peoples (Redlands, Calif.) and Jean-Pierre Bacle (Alexandria, Va.) earned the Women’s and Men’s Great Grand Masters Duathlete of the year honors, respectively.

Peoples, 65, won her age group at Duathlon National Championships in the Sprint-Distance race, placing 10th overall. At the Mission Bay Spring Sprint Duathlon, Peoples clocked the field’s fastest bike split to finish second on the women’s overall podium and earn the victory in her age group.

“It is truly an honor, and a ‘pinch me’ moment, to win my fifth Duathlete of the Year Award (four Grand Masters and one Great Grand Master),” Peoples said. “Not becoming a truly dedicated athlete until I was 26 in 1983, I never even considered I’d still be a competitive athlete 39 years later.”

Bacle, 71, finished second in his age group at Duathlon National Championships and won his age group at the Mideast Duathlon Regional Championships in Hagerstown, Md.

The 2021 USA Triathlon Age Group Duathletes of the Year and honorable mention selections are as follows:

Women’s Overall Age-Group Duathlete of the Year: Cassidy Hickey (Parker, Colo.)
Honorable Mentions: Kristen Hetzel, Kirsten Sass

Men’s Overall Age-Group Duathlete of the Year: Adoh Doherty (Taunton, Mass.)
Honorable Mentions: Nick Aguila, Todd Buckingham, Jeff Wilson

Women’s Junior Duathlete of the Year: Cassidy Hickey (Parker, Colo.)
Honorable Mentions: None

Men’s Junior Duathlete of the Year: Luke Moore (Arlington, Texas)
Honorable Mentions: John Bazaar, Jackson Parrill, Connor Spencer, Colin Wong

Women’s Masters Duathlete of the Year: Kirsten Sass (McKenzie, Tenn.)
Honorable Mentions: Celia Dubey, Kristen Hetzel, Steph Popelar

Men’s Masters Duathlete of the Year: Gene Severtson (Crofton, Md.)
Honorable Mentions: Toby Dogweiler, Stephen Eles, Jerry Faulkner, Jared Nieters, Thomas Woods

Anne Viviani Women’s Grand Masters Duathlete of the Year: Jodie Bolt (Lakewood, Wash.)
Honorable Mentions: Kirsten Chapman, Suzanne Cordes

Men’s Grand Masters Duathlete of the Year: Paul Greenberg (Westport, Conn.)
Honorable Mentions: Richard Cordes, Jeff Dorrill, David Morrow, Greg Pelican

Women’s Great Grand Masters Duathlete of the Year: Patty Peoples (Redlands, Calif.)
Honorable Mentions: Lori Beck, Colleen Rebant

Men’s Great Grand Masters Duathlete of the Year: Jean-Pierre Bacle (Alexandria, Va.)
Honorable Mentions: Duane Amato, Bob Becker, Mike Morris, Roland Parsons

Cassidy Hickey, Adoh Doherty Headline 2021 USA Triathlon Age Group Duathletes of the Year, Presented by Wahoo Fitness

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