Between its launch at Lavaman Triathlon April 3 on the island of Hawaii to the Championship race on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire on August 20, the Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlete Competition will crown 50 men and 50 women "Best Of" their states. All summer long, amateur athletes will vie for the right to represent their home state at the Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlete National Championship race hosted by the Timberman Triathlon Festival.

In order to insure that all states will be represented at the Championship, a five-deep passdown system will be in effect. If the "Best of the US.." state champion is unable to attend the championship, his or her slot will be offered to the next in line, and so on.

A special invitation is extended to the elite amateur athletes of Illinois and Wisconsin, as the fastest male and female resident amateurs will advance to the "Best of the US Championships" in picturesque Gilford, NH on August 20, where they'll race head-to-head with the winners of the other 49 state qualifiers.

Illinois Qualifier - Iron Horse Quartermax Triathlon

Paul McDevitt, director of the Iron Horse Quartermax Triathlon, and "Best of the US.." management invite Illinois' talent-rich triathlon community to participate in the 2005 Iron Horse Quartermax Triathlon near Springffield on June 19. This "quarter iron-length" event is part of the inaugural "Best of the US Amateur Triathlete Competition," and promises to be hotly contested. For more information on the Iron Horse Quartermax Triathlon, visit www.ironhorsetri.com.

Below are some of the amateur athletes that set the high tri standards in Illinois. Some of their competitive highlights are included here. We hope to see most, if not all, of these talented triathletes at the Iron Horse Quartermax Triathlon on June 19.

Andrew Starykowicz, 23, Long Grove - Starykowicz is a two-time Inside Triathlon All American & has been ranked #2 among 20-24 men the last two years by USA Triathlon. 2004 Highlights: 2nd @ Chicago, 2nd @ East Fork Triathlon, 4th @ Elkhart Lake, 5th @ USAT Age Group Nationals (Bronze medal), 11th @ Collegiate Nationals, 14th @ Funchal, POR World Championships (2nd 20-24; 2nd US finisher).

Mark Wachendorf, 39, McHenry - Mark is a three-time Inside Triathlon All American and, once again earned USAT All American honors in 2004. He has earned the right to compete for Team USA on six occasions and picked up a silver medal at the Montreal World Championships in 1999. 2004 Highlights: 7th @ USAT Nationals (2nd 35-39), 8th @ Chicago.

Brian Hague, 20, Chicago - Hague ranked #1 on the USAT 18-19 All American list in 2004. 2004 Highlights: 1st @ Harbor Lights, 1st @ Chicago Sprint.

Other Illinois men warranting serious consideration include Eric Ott (Naperville), Adam Zucco (30, Geneva), Eric Sommer (33, Springfield), Mark Hauser (37, Chicago) and Chris Sweet (26, Normal).

Jennifer Harrison, 33, West Dundee - Jennifer is a two-time member of Team USA and a perennial USAT All American. 2004 Highlights: 1st @ Lake Zurich, 3rd @ Memphis In May, 3rd @ Chicago, 4th @ Reebok's Women's Tri, 14th @ Eagleman (4:41:00). 2003 Highlights: 1st @ Harbor Lights, 1st @ Quartermax, 14th @ Menomonie Worlds Qualifier.

Other talented Illinois women deserving consideration include Lindsay Yore, Tara Schramm, Elizabeth Fedofsky, Elizabeth Attig, Julie Wood, Christina McDonie, Megan McGrath, Katie Snyder and Eva Tatooles.

Wisconsin Qualifier - Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon

Jim Bruskewitz and Dan Seymour, directors of the Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon, and "Best of the US.." management invite Wisconsin's avid triathlon community to participate in the 2005 Wisconsin Triterium in Verona on June 19. This intermediate distance event is part of the inaugural "Best of the US Amateur Triathlete Competition," and promises to be hotly contested. For more information on the Wisconsin Triterium, visit www.triloop.org.

Madison's Michael Boehmer and his wife Brianna are arguably the best husband/wife amateur triathletes in America. Some of their competitive highlights are listed below.

Michael Boehmer, 25, Madison - Three-time Inside Triathlon All American; 3-time member of Team USA; 2-time 20-24 National Champion (2003, 2004); USAT All American in 2004 (#1 25-29); 2-time nominee for USAT Triathlete of the Year. In 3rd year a professional duathlete. Highlights 2004: 1st @ Elkhart Lake, 1st @ Bigfoot, 1st @ Lactic Edge, 2nd @ Apple Duathlon, 3rd @ USAT Nationals, 5th @ Funchal, POR Worlds Championships (Silver 20-24), 6th @ Collegiate Nationals, 6th @ Chicago. 2003: 1st @ Chicago, 1st @ Elkhart Lake, 2nd @ Baker's International, 2nd @ Spirit of Racine, 2nd @ Memphis In May. 2002: 1st @ Cancun World Championships, 1st @ Collegiate Nationals.

Other Wisconsin men that, if they chose to enter, would warrant consideration include Joe Kurian (Madison), Tim Valley (36, Madison), Terry Labinski (41, Waukesha), Blake Becker (23, Stevens Point), Mark Harms (Madison), Dale Humphrey (40, Cross Plains), Paul Marcou (Milwaukee) and Phil Bzdusek (26, Milwaukee).

Brianna Boehmer (26, Madison) - Highlights 2004: 1st @ Chicago, 1st @ Apple Duathlon, 1st @ Elkhart Lake, 2nd @ Blackwater Traverse, 4th 25-29 @ USAT Nationals (13th overall). 2004: 1st @ Wisconsin Triterium, 2nd @ Dannon Naperville, 2nd @ Dannon Cathedral City, 3rd @ Elkhart Lake, 3rd @ Pleasant Prairie, 7th @ Dannon Ohio World Cup.

Other Wisconsin women that, if entered, would deserve consideration, include Wendy Bengston (36, Chippewa Falls), Karla Bock (Madison) and Kimberly Kuphal (35, Stevens Point).

For more information on the "Best of the US Amateur Triathlete Competition," contact Jerry at 651-714-1829, jerry@midwestevents.com, or visit www.bestoftheustriathletes.com.