The 2013 Grand Prix competition continues to generate some close races in both the Open and Age Group Divisions. Five Grand Prix races remain, but two of them, Ironman Augusta 70.3 and Ironman Florida, are sold out.  That leaves Club members not participating in those events just three races left to increase their points: Alabama Coastal on September 7 (members get to choose between the Sprint or the Olympic distance and either will count for Grand Prix points); Santa Rosa Island on October 5 (Sprint); and Tri the Rez on October 12 (Sprint).

The Sprint race at Alabama Coastal is a short one, too: 300-yard swim, 10-mile bike, and 2-mile run.

Open awards are given to the top five male and female Club members, regardless of age group.  Among females, Marci Gray is tied for first with Stephanie Liles-Weyant at 60 points each.  Four women are close behind, tied for second with 50 points: Melanie Leitman, Sara Nam, Ely Rosario, and Melissa Thompson.  If Gray and Liles-Weyant hold their leads, then three of the four triathletes in second place will need to step up to keep from falling out of the top five.

Among males, Steve Steverson and Alan Cox are dominating this year, with 117 and 112 points, respectively.  Both men, with race ages of 53, have far and away the most Grand Prix points in the Club.  About twenty years younger, Jon Nash and Jason Venema are currently in third and fifth, with 84 and 73 points, respectively.  Matt Rowan, chronologically about midway between  the four others, is in fourth place with 78 points.

In the Age Group Divisions, close women’s races to watch are F20-24, where only ten points separate Tyler Rolling (40), Jamilia Allen (32), and Anna Taff (30); F40-44, where just 12 points separate Lenore McWey (35), Kelly Sciba (24), and Kelli Dillon (23); and F50-54, where five points are the difference among Loranne Ausley (35), Carrie Jones (32),Monica McCullion (32), and Karen Munoz (30).

On the men’s side, three younger Club members are tied with 20 points each in the M0-19 age group: Jeremy Kuder, Wade Eastman, and Joshua Liles.  Tight races are showing up in the M35-39 and M40-44 age groups.  In the former, Nathan Rhodes leads with 28 points, and four others are tied for second with 20 points: Michael Holt, Aaron Guyer, John Thompson, and Andrei Antohi.  In M40-44, Bill Stevens leads with 32 points, followed closely by Paul Pagano (30), Wayne Thumm (28), and Chris Marino (27). 

Bob Keller, race age 79, stands alone on top of his M75-79 age group with 100 points.