Team Sport Factory is very proud of Junior Elites Alex Marshall and Hannah Meadows for their representation at Youth Elite Nationals on August 14, 2010 in San Diego, CA.

Alex and Hannah were accompanied by Alex’s mom, Lisa Marshall, who races for The Sport Factory’s Elite Team and is also one of our longtime swim coaches. Both kids were in good hands, as the Marshall family could be thought of as a “First Family” of The Sport Factory; husband Keith races on the Age Group Team while sons Clay and Alex are both on the SE Junior Elite Tri Team as well as the SF Junior Elite Team.  Alex and Hannah had trained together and with the entire Marshall family for several months leading up to the race.

Hannah Meadows raced first in the Youth Elite division. The race did not go as planned for this hard-working and incredibly positive young athlete. Hannah had trouble sighting in the 66 degree water, but she was able to come out only 35 seconds behind the front pack.  Once on the bike, she was in chase mode.  According to Hannah, “I got on my bike, rounded the first turn, trying to catch up, when an athlete ran into the back of my wheel and we both fell over. I knew that I could not do anything else except catch as many athletes on the run. I finished with one of the top 10 fastest run splits, but it was only enough to place 22nd.”

Hannah may not have made the podium that day, but her winning attitude and perspective make this precocious 14year old a champion in her own right. We look forward to supporting Hannah’s success as she progresses in the sport! Her words post-race speak for themselves, and give pause to many athletes 2-3 times her age:

“Like many of the times when we have a bad race, we all want to ask why or how come, but the best thing to do is pick up where we left off and get going again whether it will award you a championship or a lesson that you can use in the future. I am extremely happy that I had the chance to even experience such an amazing event. It shows just how far USAT has come and gives me great excitement knowing that they are investing so much interest in us young athletes. And even though it was not a great race, at least I know that it will not be my last and that is one thing to be happy about! To share this passion with so many others, I definitely feel blessed.

Alex Marshall was next to race for The Sport Factory, and was one of the top contenders from the start to finish, providing a white-knuckle event for all spectators. He had an strong swim and was second out of the water in his first ITU race ever. A flying dismount after a 20 K bike put him just behind the leader on the run. Alex tried to hang with the leader, who was firing out a 5:17 min/mile pace. Third place ran up on Alex with less than 25 meters to go. Both collapsed at the line, with Spencer Clark of Iowa just edging out Alex. “They both had given it EVERYTHING they had! I was so nervous I kept thinking I was going to throw up!” said Alex’s mom, Lisa.

Lisa Marshall continued, “I was so happy for him!  He had worked his butt off for the past 3 weeks since his long course swim season ended. He hoped for a podium but he had never raced these boys and he knew that they had won previous ITU races in CO and IA this season.  But after watching his teammates race so hard and never giving up, he wanted to make the podium…So, he went for it!” And in typical Marshall family style, that’s exactly what he did.

The Sport Factory is extremely proud of Alex Marshall and Hannah Meadows for not only their hard work and dedication, but also for their mature perspectives and positive attitude about the sport.  Prepare to see much more of these two young stars in the future!

2010 USA Triathlon Junior Triathlon Festival, San Diego , Calif. – Full Results
Junior Elite Female
1. Tanelle Berard ( Clive , Iowa ), 1:03:25
2. Johanna Gartman ( Chattanooga , Tenn. ), 1:04:09
3. Abigail Levene ( Dublin , Neb. ), 1:04:22
4. Jennifer Clay ( South Elgin , Ill. ), 1:04:51
5. Breanna Hemming (Kiowa, Colo. ), 1:04:56

Junior Elite Male
1. Ben Kanute ( Geneva , Ill. ), 57:04
2. Hunter Honeycutt ( Tifton , Ga. ), 57:20
3. Luke Farkas ( Franklin , Tenn. ), 57:25
4. Tony Smoragiewicz ( Rapid City , S.D. ), 57:33
5. Ryan Bice ( Logansport , Ind. ), 57:49

Youth Elite Girls
1. Tamara Gorman ( Rapid City , S.D. ), 34:31
2. Rachel Mann (Homer Glen, Ill. ), 35:01
3. Devon Dabney ( Atlanta , Ga. ), 35:11
4. Katharine Lowrey ( Chaska , Minn. ), 35:12
5. Hannah Rae Finch ( Altadena , Calif. ), 35:33

Youth Elite Boys
1. Eli Hemming (Kiowa, Colo. ), 31:51
2. Spencer Clark ( Clive , Iowa ), 32:19
3. Alex Marshall ( Alpharetta , Ga. ), 32:20
4. Carter Dickson ( Aurora , Ill. ), 32:40
5. Caton Avilla ( Wilton , Calif. ), 32:42

Development Team National Championship
1. Multisport Madness Triathlon Team
2. Z3 Junior Elite Team
3. Southeast Regional Junior Elite Team