The pre-race hype surrounding today’s Ironman 70.3 Panamá triathlon focused mostly on the fact that seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong would be making his first start in a road triathlon in more than 20 years. Although they didn’t get quite as much pre-race attention, there were other important stories taking shape. Who would take advantage of the early-season opportunity to earn important Kona Pro Ranking (KPR) points? How would two-time Olympic medalist Bevan Docherty fair in his first half-iron distance race in 12 years? Would Leanda Cave show the same great form that led to her first Ironman victory in Arizona at the end of 2011? How would the heat and wind of Panamá affect the outcome? All of these questions were answered.

Men’s Race
American Matty Reed, who was the most outspoken about his concerns that Armstrong would receive an unfair advantage with a media circus surrounding him on the bike, led the men out of the Panama canal and into T1. His blazing 1.2-mile swim time of 18:49 came with the help of a current. The time didn’t give him much of an advantage as four men, including Bevan Docherty and Rasmus Henning, were right on his heels. Armstrong turned in the 10th fastest swim of the men, exiting in 19:22 and just ahead of fellow super cyclist Chris Lieto.

It was France’s Bertrand Billard, not Lieto or Armstrong, who pushed the pace early on in the bike. Just 12 miles in, Billard had built a lead of 1:40 over the chase group. About halfway into the bike Armstrong and Lieto took charge, leading the effort to catch the Frenchman. Also in the group with the fast-riding Americans were Henning, Richie Cunningham (AUS), Docherty, Oscar Galindez (BRA) and Romain Guillaume (FRA). Eventually Armstrong, Lieto and Galindez broke away from the rest of the group as they continued to pursue Billard. Billard’s effort on the 56-mile bike course proved to be too much, as Lieto caught him in the final stretch.

It was Lieto leading early efforts on the half-marathon course, with Billard and Armstrong chasing close behind. Billard faded quickly and eventually dropped out. Armstrong’s seemingly conservative effort on the bike paid off. At about three miles into the race Armstrong passed Lieto to take the lead. Armstrong held onto to the front position for the majority of the 13.1 miles, but the win was not meant to be his. A fast-running Docherty passed Armstrong in the final mile of the race to post a run split of 1:12:50 and take the win in 3:50:13. Armstrong’s 1:17:01 half marathon earned him second, finishing just 42 seconds behind Docherty. Cunningham earned the final podium spot thanks to a well-rounded day.

PHOTOS: Ironman 70.3 Panama Race Images

Women’s Race
On the women’s side the race started out with several women exiting the water together. Cave led the charge into T1, thanks to a swim time of 20:10. Close behind her were the United States’ Kelly Williamson, the Czech Republic’s Radka Vodickova, the United States’ Dede Griesbauer, Germany’s Nina Kraft, Denmark’s Michelle Vesterby, Canada’s Tenille Hoogland and the United States’ Bree Wee. One of the pre-race favorites, Magali Tisseyre (CAN), had the bad luck of a flat right out T1. With no technical support in sight, Tisseyre dropped out of the race.

As she always does, Cave paired the stellar swim with an equally impressive cycling effort. Her 2:29:13 bike split was easily enough to give her the lead heading onto the run. The only woman to bike faster than Cave was Canadian Angela Naeth, giving her the second position into T2. Next off of the bike were Belgium’s Tine Deckers and the United States’ Margaret Shapiro. Cave ultimately faded, giving Naeth the lead.

The women’s race would ultimately come down to who had the best early-season fitness. Naeth’s 1:21:44 run split was the second best of the women. She crossed the finish line in 4:15:31 to take her second 70.3 title. Williamson posted one of the fastest run splits of the day, men or women, to earn second in 4:19:11. Shapiro, who spends most of her time racing on the ITU circuit, finished in third.

Ironman 70.3 Panamá
Panamá City, Panamá
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Bevan Docherty (NZL) 3:50:13
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) 3:50:55
3. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 3:52:59
4. Rasmus Henning (DEN) 3:53:38
5. Romain Guillaum (FRA) 3:54:44

Women
1. Angela Naeth (CAN) 4:15:31
2. Kelly Williamson (USA) 4:19:11
3. Margaret Shapiro (USA) 4:19:34
4. Leanda Cave (GBR) 4:21:42
5. Tine Deckers (BEL) 4:25:29

Complete Ironman 70.3 Panamá results.

Check out our complete coverage from Ironman 70.3 Panamá and come back to Triathlete.com for photos and video from the race.

Click here to read the complete race report.

Also, check out our pre-race coverage.

Ironman 70.3 Panamá
Panamá City, Panamá
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Bevan Docherty (NZL) 3:50:13
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) 3:50:55
3. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 3:52:59
4. Rasmus Henning (DEN) 3:53:38
5. Romain Guillaum (FRA) 3:54:44

Complete Ironman 70.3 Panamá results.

More Ironman 70.3 Panama coverage.

Rollison wants to gauge her abilities over longer and shorter distances as she looks at racing the Hawaiian Ironman and possibly trying to make the triathlon team for the 2016 Olympics.

The 28-year-old from Brisbane has been a triathlon revelation over the past two years since a succession of injuries forced her to give away international track running.

She has focused on long-course triathlons, winning last year’s world 70.3 title.

Rollison is the favourite for Saturday’s women’s race at the Australian Long Course Championships (2/80/20) at Falls Creek in alpine Victoria, Australia, her first race of the season.

She has been training at the ski resort to prepare for the March 3 Abu Dhabi triathlon, which she is using as a potential stepping stone to the Hawaiian Ironman.

Abu Dhabi features a 3km swim, a 200km cycle and 20km run – on the way to the brutal Ironman distance.

At the other end of the racing spectrum, Rollison will also contest two big Olympic-distance events in the United States this year to see if it might be feasible to target the 2016 Olympics.

Read more: Ninemsn.com.au

More videos from Triathlete.com.

By David Monti
(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Thomas Dold of Germany and Melissa Moon of New Zealand won the 35th edition of the Empire State Building Run-Up here last night. This was the first time the race was held at night, and athletes were greeted by a moderate snow squall when they emerged into the cold air outside on the 86th floor observation deck of this city’s tallest building.

Dold, 27, from Stuttgart, won the race for a record seventh time. He climbed the 1576 steps in 10 minutes and 28 seconds, eight seconds ahead of Christian Riedl, a 31 year-old German from Erlangen. Third place went to Mark Bourne, a 38 year-old Australian from Canberra, in 10:55. Former Australian road running star, Darren Wilson of Adelaide, finished fourth.

Dold is now holds more Run-Up victories than anyone, but did not come close to the event record of 9 minutes and 33 seconds set by Australia’s Paul Crake in 2003. Crake, a five-time winner of the event, was paralyzed in 2006 after a cycling accident.

In the women’s contest, Moon won here for the second time (she also won in 2010). The 42 year-old two-time world mountain running champion from Wellington, clocked 12 minutes and 39 seconds, handily beating second place Suzy Walsham, a 38 year-old former middle distance runner from Australia who won this race three times. Walsham, who lives in Singapore, stopped the clock at 13:08. Three-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington of England finished third in her first attempt at the race, and was timed in 13:15. Wellington had only entered the race yesterday morning.

Read more: Competitor.com

RELATED – A Conversation With Chrissie: The Decision To Take Time Away

Photo: Kevin LaClaire

She’s conquered the lava fields of Kona and now Chrissie Wellington will tackle one of one of the most iconic buildings in the world: the Empire State Building. According the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the four-time Ironman World Champion will join the field of 650 at tonight’s Empire State Building Run-Up, a dizzying 86-story climb to the skyscraper’s Observatory.

Although Wellington is taking a break from Ironman competitions, she hinted at a luncheon promoting her soon-to-be-released memoir A Life Without Limits yesterday that she still plans on racing other forms of endurance events. But even Wellington herself didn’t know she’d kick off her 2012 season so soon, until John Korff, race director of the Nautica New York City Triathlon and the 2012 U.S. Ironman Championships, suggested she give the Run-Up a whirl.

“Why take the elevator when you can run?,” said Wellington. “I couldn’t be in New York City and not seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take the stairs to the top of the Empire State Building and soak up the amazing bird’s eye view, with a healthy dose of masochism thrown in!”

PHOTOS: Chrissie Wellington’s Inside Triathlon Photo Shoot

Korff, himself a ten-time Run-Up finisher and age-group record holder in the event, says the key to conquering this unique event are strong quads and the ability to run into oxygen debt—two components Wellington certainly does not lack. “It’s all about how much you’re willing to sustain, how hard you can run when you can’t breathe,” said Korff. “It’s hard to say how Chrissie will do, she may just have some fun with it. But I imagine if she turns on those competitive juices, she can win.”

But she’ll face some tough competition:  The elite field will be headlined by four-time champ Cindy Harris and three-time winner Suzy Walsham, a former 800- and 1500-meter specialist on the track. The women’s record, set in 2006 by Andrea Mayr, is 11:23.

Armstrong is again tweeting cryptic messages that may reveal plans for his next triathlon, this time suggesting Ironman Panama 70.3 this Sunday. On Tuesday morning he tweeted a link to a Van Halen music video for the song “Panama.” At first glance it seems a shaky connection, but consider an earlier tweet from Jan. 8: “Reading @nytimes travel section. Rates top 45 places to travel to in 2012. Panama is # 1. Hmm, interesting.”

PHOTOS: Exclusive Photos Of Lance Armstrong’s Return To Tri

We know that he’s been hard at work swimming, biking and running via Twitter updates like this one from a week ago:

“Great training day. 2600 in the pool, 85 miles on the bike, then 5 mi run straight off the bike…”

If he does toe the line this Sunday, he’ll find strong competition in friend and fellow cycling star Chris Lieto, as well as Rasmus Henning, T.J. Tollakson, Bert Jammaer, Matty Reed and Jesse Thomas.

Stay tuned for updates and reports from the Triathlete.com crew in Panama this weekend.

RELATED: Lance Armstrong Case Closed

Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

With several countries looking to nab points towards Olympic qualification, this weekend’s ITU Sprint Oceania Triathlon features a stacked field.

Kris Gemmell will return to top competition on Sunday for the first time since his win at the World Cup event in Auckland in November but his focus is very much on one race in April.

The New Zealand triathlete has been in a heavy training mode over the past six weeks at the Wanaka Snow Farm with the rest of the Tri NZ high performance squad as he eyes a top finish at April’s Sydney World Champs series race.

A top-eight finish there will guarantee a spot in London but, if he fails to achieve that, it will then come down to the selectors’ discretion. Andrea Hewitt is the only New Zealand triathlete guaranteed a start in London.

Before all of that Gemmell, James Elvery, Debbie Tanner, Nicky Samuels and Kate McIlroy will all compete in this weekend’s fifth round of the Contact Tri Series in Kinloch, Taupo.

A number of international competitors will also race, including Australian Chris McCormack.

The ITU Oceania sprint title and valuable ITU points are up for grabs and Gemmell is keen to be at the head of the pack in the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

“I have won the standard distance nationals five times but never won the sprint title at the elite level,” he said. “It is something I like doing and have spent a good part of my career doing this type of race in Europe racing in club competitions and I always enjoy Takapuna each year over a similar distance.

“But there is a big contingent of Australians coming over chasing those ITU points so it won’t be easy and the course at Kinloch is a tough one. Racing over this short distance hurts, too. There is no letting up from the gun with a nasty hill on the bike so I’ll be looking to force the issue there. My aim is to place as much pressure on the field as possible on the bike and come off with a bit of a lead and sort ourselves out over the 5km run.”

Read more: Nzherald.co.uk

See the press release from USA Triathlon below:

With the aim of providing increased domestic competitive opportunities for the nation’s top paratriathletes, USA Triathlon has established the 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series, a three-race series held in conjunction with some of the nation’s top multisport events.

The sprint-distance series kicks off with the 2012 USA Paratriathlon National Championship, contested alongside the Capital of Texas Triathlon on May 28 in Austin, Texas. Paratriathlon Nationals will serve as the primary selection event for the 2012 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, on Oct. 22.

Other 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series stops include the Denver Triathlon on June 10 and the Nickel City Triathlon on Sept. 16 in Buffalo, N.Y. – the day after the 2012 USA Triathlon Elite National Championship.

“This USA Paratriathlon Race Series will provide access to higher levels of competition and increased visibility for the sport of paratriathlon. It will be great for these inspirational athletes to go from a single event in the U.S. to a three-race series,” USA Triathlon High Performance Senior Manager Andy Schmitz said. “We are looking forward to the continued growth of paratriathlon in the U.S. and worldwide.”

Historically one of the world’s top paratriathlon performers, the U.S. has earned more than one-fourth of all possible podium finishes at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships since 2008. Paratriathlon will make its Paralympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.

Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image

The 2012 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon will feature more than 1,500 participants from 58 countries.

See the press release below:

Abu Dhabi International Triathlon organizers say they are on-track to fill the 2,100 places earmarked for the March 3rd event – an increase of more than 30 percent over 2011.

This year’s event now has entrants from every inhabited continent and has seen strong growth from non-traditional triathlon markets and areas where the sport is still emerging such as Russia, up an outstanding 513%, Italy by 92% and Turkey by a staggering 560%.

The 2012 event, which has a revamped city course to meet demand, also sees first time entries from Argentina, Azerbaijan, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Iceland, India, Japan, Lebanon, Macao, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe.

The multicultural event continues to receive strong interest from the local market with a year-on-year increase of 20% in GCC participation to date. The Arab peninsula is currently represented by 815 athletes from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Internationally the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Denmark are leading the registration polls.

PHOTOS: 2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

The consistent growth from the debut event in 2010, when 868 athletes took part, is testament to the loyal international triathlon community and the hunger for first-class destination experiences, said Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which is behind the event.

“Locally and regionally we continue to see strong yearly interest in the event, which is a solid indicator of Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a preferred winter training base for triathletes, as well as the increase of grass roots clubs and groups dedicated to the sport. Encouragingly, the international appeal of the event continues to rise, as positive word of mouth spreads, which gives us an excellent platform to further demonstrate the emirate’s burgeoning performance athletics credentials,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, ADTA.

Building on the success of last year’s event – which boasted 61 of the world’s best triathletes with 24 global titles between them – ADTA is recruiting a professional field to rival any major competition on the international circuit, with details soon to be announced. Pro-minded age-group athletes again have the chance to race alongside the sport’s elite, testing their stamina, strength and endurance in the iconic US$250,000 race.

“This is really the only professional sport globally where amateurs can compete with the elite, shoulder-to-shoulder. Being able to do this not only increases knowledge transfer between everyone, but also serves as a strong motivator to inspire youngsters looking to get into sport and adopt a healthier lifestyle,” added Al Sheikh.

For 2012, the race offers a selection of distances to accommodate athletes of all abilities. The 223km ‘long course’ boasts a 3km swim, a 200km cycle and 20km closing run – the same distance the world class elite will battle it out on. Ambitious newcomers can choose to tackle the ‘short’ course, at half the length, with a 1.5km swim, a 100km cycle and a 10 km run.

For those wanting to set the pace, the sprint course offers a 750m swim, a 50km bike and 5km run. Both the short and sprint distance also offer the option of a relay entry, encouraging like-minded friends, families and colleagues to take up the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon challenge.

The unique course offers the sport’s most picturesque setting; starting in a clear blue lagoon, biking on the famous Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and then ending on the sweeping shores of the Corniche.

For inbound visitors and competitors, the event hotel, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, is offering facilities such as large heated swimming pools, direct beach access, fully equipped gym, bike storage and a daily hotel menu designed with both the athlete and their friends and families in mind. Triathletes interested in a new experience are invited to join the start line in 2012 and be welcomed by the first class Abu Dhabi hospitality.

PHOTOS: Pro Bikes Of Abu Dhabi

See the complete press release below:

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to announce the 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships will be held in Pelham, Alabama, on May 19 in a partnership with the Xterra Southeast Championship.  The event will feature $20,000 USD in prize money for elite athletes, who will compete over a 1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail run.  Under23, junior, age-group and paratriathlon races will also be contested in Pelham.

Marisol Casado, ITU President & IOC Member:
“The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with Xterra for our 2012 Cross Triathlon World Championships. We are confident the strong race organization and dynamic course will continue to push Cross Triathlon to a new level.”

Dave Nicholas, Race Director, Xterra Southeast Championships
“TEAM unlimited is excited about bringing the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship to the USA.  By combining the Xterra series with ITU we are reaching new heights in cooperation between directors and the federations. Oak Mountain and Shelby County are the perfect place to host this event.”

The course at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, located in the southernmost part of the Appalachian Chain, is praised by competitors as being one of the most fun, fast, scenic and difficult on the Xterra schedule. Pelham will mark the second ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships, following last year’s successful event in Extremadura, Spain won by Canadian Melanie McQuaid and South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz. Both McQuaid and Stoltz are also the defending champions in Pelham.

2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships
ITU has also awarded the 2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships to Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands.  The event is slated for July 13, 2013 and will offer 35,000 EUR in prize money for elite athletes and will also hold under23, junior age-group and paratriathlon categories.  In preparation for the event, the city will host the European Cross Triathlon Championships this year.

Photo: Nick Salazar

Austin’s Kelly Williamson passed up Jess Barton of Amonate, Va., to take first in 1:14:42. Barton, who’s been training in Boulder, Colo., was second in 1:15:53, while Austin’s Chris Kimbrough took third in 1:16:20.

“I’m ecstatic, because my fastest half marathon time before today was 1:17,” said Williamson, who earned $1,500 for her victory Sunday, as did Rantall.

Barton set a 5:40 pace from the start, while Williamson was content to hang back, running with Kimbrough. At about the halfway mark, though, Williamson seized the lead and never gave it back.

“I kept her in sight, maybe about 10 seconds ahead,” Barton said, “but then the downhills took their toll on my quads, and that was it.”

Said Williamson, who will compete in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon in Panama in two weeks: “I tried not to worry about her running right behind me. I just wanted to run my race and my pace. I knew I had a pretty good lead by mile 10, so at that point, I was mainly shooting for a fast time.”

Read more: Statesman.com

Photo: Tom Robertson/USA Triathlon

Mike Wolfe and Rebecca Dussault took advantage of near-perfect conditions Sunday to claim national titles at USA Triathlon’s Winter Triathlon National Championship at Homestake Lodge.

Wolfe (Helena, Mont.) covered the 5-kilometer run, 10-kilometer mountain bike and 5-kilometer cross-country ski course in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 20 seconds to outdistance the field by more than three minutes.

Joining Wolfe on the men’s podium were fellow Montana athletes Matt Seeley (Polson, Mont.) and Landon Beckner (Helena, Mont.), who finished in 1:13:31 and 1:13:34, respectively.

On the women’s side, Dussault (Gunnison, Colo.) claimed her third USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship title in the last four years in 1:16:10. The 2010 winter triathlon world champion also finished fifth overall – regardless of gender – to earn the women’s title by more than five minutes.

Last year’s women’s national champion Emma Garrard (Park City, Utah) was second in 1:21:22, while Nicole Freedman (Jamaica, Mass.) grabbed third in 1:25:13.

Wolfe and Dussault got off to strong starts by posting the day’s fastest run splits en route to their victories.

The top three overall finishers earned the right to represent the U.S. in the elite race at the 2012 ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships in Jämijärvi, Finland, on March 24-25. Additionally, the top three competitors in each age group qualified for Team USA for Winter Worlds.

Held in conjunction with the fourth annual Powder Hound Winter Triathlon, Sunday’s Winter Nationals event was contested under bright sunshine with temperatures in the mid 40s.

The USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship was originally slated for the Gunstock Winter Triathlon on Jan. 22 in Gilford, N.H., but USA Triathlon was forced to relocate Winter Nationals in late December 2011 due to a lack of snow on the East Coast.

2012 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship
(Powderhound Winter Triathlon, Butte, Mont.)
5k run, 10k mountain bike, 5k cross-country ski

Men’s Top-10 Finishers
1. Mike Wolfe (Helena, Mont.), 1:10:20 ($750)
2. Matt Seeley (Polson, Mont.), 1:13:31 ($450)
3. Landon Beckner (Helena, Mont.), 1:13:34 ($300)
4. Ryan Scott (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:15:13
5. Cory Soulliard (Hamilton, Mont.), 1:16:45
6. Chuck Dumke (Missoula, Mont.), 1:18:15
7. Michael Stearns (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:18:40
8. David Hoffman (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:21:16
9. Wesley Furlong (Missoula, Mont.), 1:25:48
10. Ted Wood (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:26:17

Women’s Top-10 Finishers
1. Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, Colo.), 1:16:10 ($750)
2. Emma Garrard (Park City, Utah), 1:21:22 ($400)
3. Nicole Freedman (Jamaica, Mass.), 1:25:13 ($350)
4. Julie Zickovich (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:31:38
5. Darcy Foley (Sturbride, Mass.), 1:32:47
6. Ingrid Lovitt (Missoula, Mont.), 1:41:14
7. Kathryn Babbin (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:45:08
8. Kaylee Uibel (Kalispell, Mont.), 1:47:42
9. Rebecca Duffy (Bartlett, Ill.), 1:56:13
10. Becky Hochstein (Bozeman, Mont.), 2:00:27

Race report provided by USA Triathlon.

See the press release from Ironman below:

World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) today announced that general entry registration for the third annual Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan will open on Jan. 31, 2012. With this being the only Ironman World Championship qualifier in the region, race organizers have added additional entries; however, as in previous years, a sell-out is anticipated within just a few hours.

Scheduled for June 24, 2012, Lixil Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan will be staged in and around the Centrair International Airport, providing easy access to the race for visitors travelling from across the globe with direct flights from Singapore, Frankfurt and Detroit. Athletes will begin the race with a point-to-point swim at Ise Bay in the Pacific Ocean. The 1.5-loop bike course will see some changes in 2012, leading to a smoother and faster route through Tokoname city. The final leg of the course features a spectator friendly one-loop run with athletes finishing on the beach.

The event is one of nearly 60 in the global Ironman 70.3 Series, offering 25 age group qualifying slots for the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3, to be held on Sept. 9, 2012, at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev. The event date was moved earlier in the season to accommodate the addition of 30 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship, scheduled for Oct. 13, 2012, in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. These slots will give Asia-Pacific athletes additional opportunities to make it to the starting line on Ali’i Drive in Kona. Professional athletes will be competing for a prize purse of $15,000.

For additional information on Lixil Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan or to register for the 2012 race, please visit www.ironman703.jp/e/.

See the press release from USA Triathlon below:

With national titles and Team USA spots on the line, USA Triathlon’s 2012 Winter Triathlon National Championship will be held Sunday in conjunction with the Powder Hound Winter Triathlon in Butte, Mont.

The annual event consists of a 5-kilometer run, 10-kilometer mountain bike and 5-kilometer cross-country ski - all on snow. Action will begin at 10 a.m. at Homestake Lodge.Visit usatriathlon.org for complete event details or to register.

The top three competitors in each age group will qualify for Team USA for the 2012 ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships in Jämijärvi, Finland, on March 24-25. Additionally, the top three overall finishers will represent the U.S. in the elite race at the Winter World Championships.

Among those slated to compete this weekend is defending women’s champion Emma Garrard (Park City, Utah), who also owns three straight top-10 finishes at Winter Worlds.

“I am excited to race Winter Triathlon Nationals this weekend. I think it’s a really fun and challenging sport and a great way to introduce more people to the multisport lifestyle,” Garrard said. “I hope to defend my title and have the opportunity to qualify for the world championships again. Homestake Lodge in Butte sounds like a scenic venue, and the course has some hills in it.”

Contested at Homestake Lodge and organized by Homestake Lodge and the Bozeman Triathlon Club, the Powder Hound Winter Triathlon is the first winter triathlon in the state of Montana and the northern Rockies. The 2012 event marks the fourth installation of the race.

The USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship was originally slated for the Gunstock Winter Triathlon on Jan. 22 in Gilford, N.H., but USA Triathlon was forced to relocate Winter Nationals in late December 2011 due to a lack of snow on the East Coast.

Photo: Xterra/Oakpics.com

Reigning individual men’s and women’s champions, Conrad Stoltz and Carla Van Huyssteen will both be gunning for gold when they return to Buffelspoort Dam (North West Province, South Africa) to take on the Xterra Buffelspoort next Saturday, Jan. 28.

Read the race preview from Xterra below:

The picture of Stoltz’ running in front of the Dam at last year’s race shown above (courtesy Oakpics.com) captures the spirit of this event.

According to Stoltz, he was pleasantly surprised by the huge field of athletes that took part at Xterra Buffelspoort in 2011. “It was heart warming to see Xterra growing so quickly in South Africa. Xterra Buffelspoort 2011 was my first local Xterra other than Xterra Grabouw. I came straight from my holiday on my parents’ farm, so I wasn’t that well prepared, since there is no swimming pool in Lydenburg. I did, however, manage to get wet a few times in a nearby dam. I rode the bike course blind (not having seen it before) which is always a little unsettling, but fortunately I had good legs and made 6 or 7 minutes on Dan Hugo. The run course was quite scenic around the dam wall area and I was happy to start the season off with a win. Xterra Buffelspoort’s mountain bike course is mostly flat to undulating, so high speeds abound which makes for some fun cornering in a few places. The run course is 2 laps, and quite hilly. Some stairs up and down the dam wall with some boulder climbing thrown in. There are also a few river crossings to cool you down and make sure your shoes stay heavy. I love racing and will always look for an excuse to race,” says Stoltz.

Van Huyssteen will be celebrating her third appearance at Xterra Buffelspoort. “I am expecting a hard day out as always. The route was really challenging last year, with every aspect delivering its own technical, but exciting parts. The 2011 run discipline was spectacular, running across the dam wall and climbing up the big waist high stairs was hard, but super. The start of the mountain bike discipline is quite technical, so if you are a good technical rider you can definitely gain a bit of time there. The rocky area, steep short climbs and rocky downs can make or break you. The run was tough as nails. You start off fast on a flattish section, adrenalin pumping over the wall and up the stairs. The slog up the other side of the hill is hard. Just when you think you can’t go any further you’re welcomed by a bit of single track or a downhill that gives you hope again! Every discipline has a tough part, the back straight of the one lap swim is always tough, the lameness in my legs the first 20 minutes and the sandy drags on the bike and the hills of the run all add up to a serious ouch! My Xterra schedule for the year will include Xterra Grabouw in February, this is a definite highlight. I am also hoping to race the European Series again starting with Xterra Sardinia in May and then Xterra France, Czech, Germany and finally Xterra Switzerland in September. I would also love to go to the Xterra World Champs in Maui this year,” said Van Huyssteen.

Armstrong has raced in three off-road triathlons since September. Photo: Elizabeth Kreutz

Last weekend, the Jamail Swim Center at the University of Texas played host to one of the all-time sports legends in Michael Phelps. This weekend, it played host to one of the few men walking the earth who can challenge his ubiquitous sporting fame: Lance Armstrong.

PHOTOS: Lance Armstrong’s Return To Tri

Armstrong made his official pool-swimming debut at this weekend’s Longhorn Aquatics New Year’s Classic meet with a 5:08.11 to place 21st in the 15 & over division of the 500 free against predominantly high-school aged competitors. The race was split fairly well (by 100):

57.5
1:01.4
1:02.5
1:03.5
1:03.3

He had good, even pacing that is similar to what one might see in a triathlon – where there’s not usually a finishing kick to the swim portion.

Read more: Theswimmerscircle.com