SNAPPLE® PRESENTS
The Snapple Triathlon Team
Tidal EPC Continues Partnership With Team Snapple For Fourth Straight Year.
Comprised of top-flight professional and elite athletes across the U.S., The Snapple Triathlon Team promotes the sport of triathlon, the healthy lifestyles that come with it, and encourages friends and competitors alike to get outside and play.
The Snapple Triathlon Team is proud to announce the 2012 members of its National Pro/Elite Triathlon Team.
New Members
Wes Anderson is a second year pro who currently lives with his wife Erin in San Antonio. Wes is a 5-time age group nationals qualifier and was the USAT 25-59 Midwest Region champion before accepting his pro card.
Nathan Birdsall was the top amateur Calgary 70.3—finishing over 5 minutes faster than the 2nd place amateur. He raced an amazing 19 times in 2011 and finished on the podium in 15 of those races. His Ironman PR was 9:25 at IM Arizona in 2010.
Chris Glibert is a 23-year-old physical therapy doctoral candidate at Northwestern University. Chris was the 1st overall amateur in his first and only attempt at the IM distance, finishing 9:33 at IM Wisconsin. He plans to make his debut as a professional triathlete at IM Arizona in 2012.
Barry Lewis has been recognized as one of the nation’s top ultra-marathon trail runners, with more than 200 races of marathon distance or longer and victories at every distance between 5K and 50 miles. In 2005, his debut season as a triathlete, Barry was the mid-Atlantic Region Age Group Champion in the Xterra series, and placed 3rd in his age group at the Xterra World Championships. At Kona in 2009, Barry finished 12th in his age group in his first IM distance race. In 2010, Barry placed 5th in the ITU Duathlon World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. A week later, he finished 3rd in the ITU Olympic Distance Triathlon World Championships in Budapest. USAT recognized Barry’s exceptional season by naming him 2010 Masters Duathlete of the Year. In 2011, Barry competed in his second Ironman, placing 2nd in his age group at Lake Placid. Three months later, he returned to Kona, finishing 6th in his age group.
Chris Nocera is a former Division 1 cross country and track and field athlete.
In 2011, Chris qualified for Kona by winning the 25-29 AG at Eagleman 70.3. He also finished 2nd overall at the Toughman Half Iron-distance Tri. He’s a newlywed looking forward to another fast year of racing in 2012.
Erik Reitinger comes to triathlon from trowing, in which he had a successful career at Riverside Boat Club in Boston and Undine Barge Club in Philadelphia after graduating from Rutgers University. In the past, Erik focused on duathlon with a 13th place finish at both Long and Short Course Duathlon National Championships and a 3rd place finish at the American Zofingen Duathlon. Erik spent the latter half of 2011 making the official jump to 70.3 distance events, finishing as the 13th amateur at Timberman 70.3 and 8th amateur at Poconos 70.3 where he qualified for the 2012 World Championships in Las Vegas. Erik lives in Philadelphia where he is a 6th Grade Teacher and a Master's student at The University of Pennsylvania. Erik also coaches multisport with his teammate and college roommate, Greg Close.
Dave Slavinski is a coach and athlete along with his wife who also coaches and is a Team USA athlete. Dave was the USAT long and short course Duathlon National Champion for 2011 and USAT Half Max AG National Champion. He was the 2010 USAT athlete of the year.
Kristie Timmer started doing triathlons 3 years ago. Despite a background in competitive swimming, she quickly discovered her real strength and passion was in cycling. After a few years of doing shorter races with many overall wins, Kristie plans to shift her focus to longer races in 2012, culminating in her first Ironman at IM Florida. In addition to triathlon, Kristie is an avid rock climber and enjoys camping. She’s supported in her racing by her two sons, Isaac and Henri, and her boyfriend, Mike.
Returning Members
Morgan Chaffin in her first season as a pro, Morgan recovered from an early setback—undergoing hip surgery—only to rebound and win 8 triathlons and finish 6th pro at Branson 70.3 and 10th Pro at Austin 70.3
Greg Close had a breakout season in 2011, qualifying as a pro, finishing 3rd amateur at IM Lake Placid, finishing 3rd at the Toughman Triathlon, and finishing 6th in his age group with in 9:11 at Kona.
Rick Fesler posted an undefeated season, finishing 6 overall in all 6 triathlons he raced in 2011, including 1st overall team at Triple T.
Maggi Finley also managed an undeafeated 2011 multi-sport season with 6 overall triathlon wins, including finishing 1st overall amateur at both the Memphis in May and Capital Texas Triathlons.
Chris Ganter made a big move in 2011 from Philadelphia to Boise, Idaho. Chris raced well all year, with standout performances at Rev3 Portland where he finished in 4:04 and at Austin 70.3 where he finished 8th in the pro field.
Holly Geldhauser put together an amazing 2011 season with wins at the Bassman Half, the Kickoff Classic and the New Jersey State Triathlon. On a national stage, she was the 5th amateur at Mooseman 70.3, 2nd amateur at the Philadelphia Triathlon, 7th at the Toyota U.S. Open, and 4th in her age group at the 70.3 World Championships in Vegas—finishing less than a minute out of 2nd.
Seeley Gutierrez finished 1st overall at the North Florida Sprint Triathlon and the Alabama Coastal Triathlon—where she was also 2nd in the Best of US Championship. She added wins at several local road races and a 2nd overall finish at the Sandestin Triathlon.
Jim Hallberg continued to crush the Boulder Triathlon scene, finishing 1st overall at both the Longmont Triathlon and the Boulder 5430 Sprint. He also notched at 2nd place finish at Boulder Peak, 3rd at the Denver Triathlon, 5th amateur at Boulder 70.3, and 9th overall at Hy-vee.
Stephanie Liles took 2nd in her age group at New Orleans 70.3 and then took it to the Hills in Vegas. She also finished 7th Overall at the Gulf Coast half and won several local tris and road races.
Lucas McCollum won the Rumpus in the Bumpass Sprint Triathlon, the Cascade Lake Triathlon, and the Hagerstown Sprint Triathlon. He was 4th Overall at Savageman, 5th amateur at the Columbia Triathlon, and 6th Amateur (10th overall) at Rhode Island 70.3.
Matias Palavecino a perennial crusher of dreams, Matias was unwavering in his doling out of suffering. His was 1st overall amateur at Eagleman, 2nd overall amateur at Columbia, 1st overall at the Reston Triathlon, and he won the Luray Sprint and Olympic Distance Tris on back to back days.
Robbie Wade started the year by finishing an impressive 8th overall in the European Duathlon Championships. He was the 9th overall pro at Racine 70.3, 4th at the Austin Triathlon, and 2nd overall at the Houston Triathlon. He won too many local road races to count.
Media Contact:
Bart Forsyth – Team Snapple, Washington, D.C.
Bart@snappletriteam.com
