Point Mugu, Calif. – Athlete Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines stationed throughout the world traded in their combat boots for running shoes in the 2008 Armed Forces Triathlon Championships at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu May 31.

This is the triathlon’s eighth consecutive year at NBVC Point Mugu, which is the permanent host of the annual event. Approximately seventy-seven U.S servicemembers, both male and female, assembled at Point Mugu family beach to compete for a chance to attend the 15th Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Triathlon Championship in Estonia.

Athletes completed an ocean swim, bike course and run course. The ocean course consisted of a two-loop 1,500 meter swim.  The bike portion is a 24.8 mile ride with four loops. The run is a three-loop 6.2 mile course.

Navy Lt. Timothy O’Donnell stationed in NAS Coronado, Calif. won his sixth gold medal in the male category of the triathlon. “Every time I cross the finish line I feel proud to wear this uniform and represent the best of the Navy,” said O’Donnell.
“I had a lot of motivation for this race not just from Team Navy but from my parents who came all the way from Pennsylvania to cheer me on,” said O’Donnell, who is part of the U.S. Triathlon National Team.

O’Donnell finished with an overall time of 1:46:17.81.
U.S. Marine Corp 2nd Lt. Justine Whipple of Headquarters U.S. Northern Command won her second gold for the women’s event. “I did great on the bike,” said Whipple whose goal now is to win Gold at the CISM World Military Games. “I had all the Marines cheering me on along with their families and my friends from the Naval Academy. When I run with the Marines and other servicemembers I feel like I’m with a big family of brothers and sisters. It really fuels my motivation.”

Whipple finished with an overall time of 2:00:07.23.
The top five male and female athletes who qualified in the Armed Forces Triathlon Championships will be part of the 2008 U.S. Armed Forces Triathlon Team that will compete in the CISM World Military Games.

The Armed Forces Championships are conducted under the auspices of the Armed Forces Sports Council, which is responsible to the Senior Military Advisor for all matters pertaining to the organization and administration of armed forces participation in national and international sports competitions.  The purpose of this program is to promote understanding, goodwill and competition among the armed services through inter-service sports competition and to provide the means of selecting teams and individuals to represent the Armed Forces in national and international competition.
Armed Forces Sports competitions involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard (combines with Navy except for Rugby) are conducted for men and women in the sports of: basketball, wrestling, bowling, marathon, volleyball, softball, cross country, golf, triathlon, rugby, boxing and soccer.

Participants for each sport are selected at highly competitive training programs and trial camps by each of the respective services.  At the conclusion of the Armed Forces competitions the best players are selected to represent the U.S. at International Military Sports Competitions hosted worldwide or at U.S. national championships.      
This year’s U.S. Armed Forces Triathlon Team includes third place finisher Army 2nd Lt. Nicholas Dason out of West Point, New York (1:54:43.94), fifth place finisher Army Maj. Arthur Mathisen  out of Fort Gordon, Georgia (1:56:46.16), sixth place finisher Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Berquist out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington (1:57:11.56), ninth place finisher Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Calvert out of U.S. Fleet Forces Command (1:58:41.20), tenth place finisher Navy Ensign Erik Bates out of the United States Naval Academy (1:59:18.81), and eighteenth place finisher Marine Corp Capt. Philip Giarraputo out of Marine Corp Air Station Miramar (2:01:07.56).

The women advancing to the team this year are first place winner Marine Corp 2nd Lt. Justine Whipple out of U.S. Northern Command (2:00:07.23), third place finisher Marine Corp Capt. Sara McGrath out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (2:12:09.93), fourth place finisher Air Force Capt. Colleen Griesinger out of Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland (2:12:50.90), sixth place finisher Army Capt. Bre Millard out of Fort Shafter, Hawaii (2:13:59.83), seventh place finisher Army Capt. Samantha Bird out of Fort Meade, Maryland (2:14:05.99), and eighth place finisher Navy Lt. j.g. Jennifer McDonagh out of Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (2:14:15.20).

Also included on the World team is a Masters Division for men over age 40 and women over age 35. Representing the U.S. in the Men’s Masters Division will be Navy LCDR Daniel Frost, Naval Base Ventura County, CA, Air Force MSgt Michael McCoy, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, and Navy AETCM Michael Ferreira, U.S. Coast Guard Station, Barbers Point. 

In the Women’s Masters Division are LTCOL Heidi Grimm, Fort Carson, CO, and SSgt. Tina Eakin, Camp Humphreys, Korea.

Many of the higher ranked athletes will not be able to attend the world championship due to conflicting Olympic or military commitments.

“Although some of the top finishers won’t be able to make the trip to Estonia due to war time commitments, with the performance I saw I have high expectations,” said Navy Capt. Charles B. Conners, NBVC commanding officer and Chief of Missions for the U.S. Armed Forces team.

The service overall team standings for the men’s teams: first place Navy, followed by Air Force, Marines and Army.
“We have a lot of new kids on Team Army,” said Army Lt. Col. Heidi Grimm, Team Captain and second in the women’s event with 2:05:09.34. “There is a lot of talent here and it can be intimidating especially if you are new. I saw our Officers and Soldiers give all they had to be the best when they cross the finish line and that is all we ask.”

The service overall team standings for the women’s teams: first place Marine Corp, followed by Army, Air Force and Navy.

“We had a solid performance this year,” said Air Force Maj. Spence Cocanour, Team Captain and 42 overall with 2:04:57.00. “We have a lot of contenders and expect a better performance next year.”

“What I saw at the championship were some of finest athletes in the world. On their real mission, peace through sport, they will all be gold medal winners,” said Conners.