Competitors could not wait to get in the water to start the 2004 Pleasant Prairie Triathlon. That's because a weeklong cold snap caused early morning temperatures to dip below 50-degrees, and the steam that rose from Lake Andrea was the only sign of warmth.

But after a comfortable and clean swim through the spring-fed lake, the daytime temps began to heat up and so did the racing.

In the International race (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run), training partners Michael Boehmer, 24, from Delafield, WI, and Blake Becker, 22, from Madison, WI, began what would turn out to be an epic duel to the finish upon exiting the water only 20 seconds apart.

Off the bike, Becker had built up a 30 second advantage, but a quick transition found the two side-by-side one mile into the run.

"We kept surging and trying to break each other, we were going back and forth," said Becker. "You don't get in those situations too often. This was just like you dream it up--it was like a Mark Allen and Dave Scott- type race in Hawaii."

As it turned out, Boehmer would take the overall title by a mere seven seconds over Becker, 2:00:57 to 2:01:04. Jim Bruskewitz was third in 2:04:58.

In the women's international race, two-time Ironman Wisconsin champ Heather Gollnick, 34, from Hartford, WI, left the water with a five minute advantage on Briana Stott-Messick, 25, from Madison, WI. Stott-Messick used the bike to chip away at Gollnick's lead, and positioned herself within striking distance to start the run.

"I could see Heather when I started the run," said Stott-Messick, "and I made it a point to catch her. I come from a running background."

Stott-Messick used a 35:47 run split to overtake the lead and win in 2:12:13. Gollnick preserved second in 2:13:26, and Karla Bock placed third in 2:18:30.

In the sprint distance (.75K swim, 20K bike, 5K run), Geoff Scott produced the fastest bike split of the day to make a race of the overall title heading into the run after cutting his toe at the swim start, but Rick Rilling pulled away over the final 5K to take the victory in 1:05:40.

Scott wound up second in 1:06:34, and was joined on the award stand by his mother, Judy Scott, who won the women's 55-59 age-group in 1:43:00. Scott's fiance and sister also competed in the race. Michael Flanagan placed third in 1:06:39.

On the women's side, Stacey Kiefer did not relinquish the lead she built up after posting the fastest swim split. She went on to win in 1:10:57. Kiefer, who is new to the sport of triathlon, was happy with her performance. "I'm right where I want to be in my training," she said.

Kim Dunker was runner-up in 1:12:08, trailed by Luisa Hernandez in 1:13:09.

Pleasant Prairie, which was ranked among the top 30 triathlons in the country by Triathlete Magazine in 2003, and for the second year in a row, was selected as the USAT Midwest Regional Championship Site for International Distance, has quickly turned into a regional powerhouse in only its third year. Nearly 1,000 competitors turned out for the international and sprint races combined.

Photos: Above--(left to right) Top women's finishers Briana Stott- Messick, Heather Gollnick and Karla Bock. Below--(left to right) Men's champ Michael Boehmer, Briana Stott-Messick and runner-up Blake Becker.

For complete results, click here.