Hundreds To Make A Splash At Inaugural Amica Championship

A mix of professionals, amateurs and first-time competitors will be among the hundreds of triathletes slated to compete this weekend at the inaugural Amica Championship. The sprint triathlon will debut on Sunday, November 1, at Lake Pleasant Park, Arizona. The Amica Championship begins at 8 a.m. and features a half-mile swim, a 17-mile bike and a 5k run.

Triathletes of all skill levels will compete in this inaugural event, which includes three divisions: Pros, Qualifiers and Age Groupers. Pros will be competing for a $20,000 prize.

A few of the top professionals slated to compete in the Amica Championship on Sunday include:

· Jarrod Shoemaker: A member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, Shoemaker placed 18th overall at the Beijing Olympics. A resident of Maynard, MA and graduate of Dartmouth College, Shoemaker, 27, earned his spot on the U.S. Olympic Team by finishing as the top American (11th place overall) at the 2007 ITU Beijing World Cup.

· Joe Gambles: He was the winner of two Ironman 70.3 events this summer. Gambles captured both the Lake Stevens Ironman 70.3 and Vineman Ironman 70.3 and set course records in each race. Gambles, 27, won Lake Stevens in 3 hours, 56 minutes and took the title at Vineman in a record-setting 3 hours, 49 minutes. A native of Australia, he currently resides in Boulder, CO.

· Daniel Bretscher: The Indiana native was the recipient of USA Triathlon’s 2008 Elite Rookie Athlete of the Year Award. As a rookie, Bretscher, 26, had six top 10 finishes and placed 19th in the World Championship in 2008. In addition, he won the Spirit of Morgantown in 2008.

· Lewis Elliot: The overall winner of 70 multi-sport events, Elliot, 29, won the Nathan Tempe triathlon in late September. Most recently, he placed 25th in a field of 20,000 in the Rock ‘N’ Roll San Jose (half marathon). A resident of Phoenix, AZ, he previously raced bicycles for the U.S. National Team.

· Chris Foster: A resident of Redondo Beach, CA, Foster, 27, won the San Diego International Triathlon in June. He recently placed eighth overall at the Los Angeles Triathlon.

· Mary Miller: The 28-year-old from Boulder, CO, recently was the first woman overall at the Pumpkinman Triathlon. Miller’s additional accomplishments include a second-place finish overall among women at the Timberman Sprint Triathlon where she was first in her age group (25-29). She also placed 16th among women at the ITU Age Group World Championships. In 2008, Miller captured the Wildflower Olympic Triathlon and, in doing so, set the new course record for women.

· Malaika Homo: First among elite women at the Danskin Sprint Triathlon in the spring, the 31 year-old from Salt Lake City, Utah, also finished fourth among elite women at the Memphis in May sprint triathlon.

The 2009 Amica Championship is the culmination of the inaugural Amica Triathlon Series, a sprint distance series of events held throughout the country. This new national sprint triathlon series, which featured seven races, debuted in the spring with the Amica TexasMan Triathlon in Dallas, TX. Additional events were held throughout the spring and summer in Boulder (CO), Nashville (TN), Charlotte (NC), Portland (OR), Niantic (CT) and Las Vegas (NV).

The overall male and female winners at each Amica Tri Series event were each granted a complimentary entry to the Amica Championship. In addition, the top 10 finishers in each age group at the events received invitations to compete in the Amica Championship.

Triathletes, from beginners to professionals, interested in participating in the inaugural Amica Championship can register at the Heath & Wellness Expo at the Carefree Resort & Villas, Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Training Bible’s Tom Manzi and Joe Friel will be the featured speakers at the Amica Championship Health & Wellness Expo. Friel is an international best seller of the books, The Triathletes Training Bible and The Cyclists Training Bible. He has used his science and experience to help athletes and coaches of all levels. Through Friel’s hands-on instruction, and rigorous continuing education, Training Bible Coaching maintains a staff of coaches that is current on the latest, most effective and efficient training methodologies. Manzi is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. followed by Friel at 2 p.m.