The TEaM
 |
Name: Savannah Dearden From: St. Petersburg, FL Age Group Category: Junior Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: The Run Favorite Sport Outside of Triathlon: trail running (to do), football (to watch) Athlete I look up to: Lauren Capone Most influential person: College tri coach- Coach Mateo Favorite psych song: “Remember the Name” – Fort Minor Proudest moment: Winning age group, 2011 AG Nationals Champs – VT Favorite post race food: watermelon Must have food pre-race: banana and almond butter Favorite triathlon race: AG National Champs – Vermont Favorite sport quote: “To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve“- James Allen |
 |
Name: Avery Gillem From: Williamsburg VA Age Group Category: Youth elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: the swim/ transitions Favorite sport outside of triathlon: lacrosse/XC Athlete I look up to: Hunter Kemper Most influential person: Coach Marc and Dad Favorite psych song: “6 foot 7 foot” by Lil Wayne, “I’m a Star” by Jeremih, “Comming Undone” by Korn, “Hangman” by Mercy Fall. Proudest moment: Finishing fifth at my first Nationals Favorite post race food: Bojangles! (when available) otherwise steak and reese’s peanut butter cup. Must have food pre-race: Bagel and peanut butter Powerbar w/ lemon lime gatorade morning of and pasta with pieces of grilled chicken Favorite triathlon race: 3Sports triathlon Favorite sport quote: “Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it.” -T Alan Armstrong |
 |
Name: Kaileah Blazek
From: Clermont, Florida Age Group Category: Junior Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: Bike Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Cycling Athlete I look up to: Alicia Kaye Most influential person: Coach Marc and my parents Favorite psych song: Remember the Name – Fort Minor Proudest moment: Top 20s at nationals and having the best coach ever Favorite post race food: Protein shake and fruit Must have food pre-race: Bagel the morning of, and salad or pasta the night before Favorite triathlon race: St. Anthony’s Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “I’ve learned a little secret, race with your heart.”- Shani Davis |
 |
Name: Caroline
From: St. Petersburg
Age Group: Junior Elite
Favorite discipline: Running
Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Basketball Athlete I look up to: Adam Jerger
Most Influental people: track and cross country coaches
Favorite Psych song: Springsteen By Eric Church
Proudest moment: Qualifying for Nationals this year
Favorite post race food: Bagel
Must have pre race food: Toast with peanut butter and pasta the night before
Favorite triathlon race: Morton Plant Mease
Favorite sports quote: :”The real competition is saying no to the voice in your head begging you to stop.”
|
 |
Name: Ciara “Pepper” Hopkins
From: Clermont
Age Group Category: Youth Elite
Favorite discipline: The Bike
Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Alpine Skiing Athlete I look up to: Sarah Reinertsen
Most Influental people: My Parents
Favorite Psych song: Fly – Niki Manaj ft. Rihanna
Proudest moment: Winning national championship titles
Favorite post race food: Cupcakes
Must have pre race food: Oatmeal
Favorite triathlon race: Escape from Alcatraz
Favorite sports quote: “Race with heart” – Ralph Hopkins – my Dad
|
 |
Name: Tristan Rhodes
From: Winter Park
Age Group Category: Youth Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: Running Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Water Polo Athlete I look up to: Joe Auer Most influential person: Swim Coach from age 9-12
Favorite psych song: Remember the Name-Fort Minor
Proudest moment: Getting my first Junior Olympic Cut (swim)
Favorite post race food: Subway
Must have food pre-race: Honey Nut Cheerios Favorite triathlon race: Baldwin Park Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “Quiet people have the loudest minds.”-Stephen Hawking |
 |
Name: Mackenzie Koth From: Wesley Chapel Age Group Category: 15-19 EDT Favorite Triathlon Discipline: The swim or the bike Favorite sport outside of triathlon: swimming or cycling Athlete I look up to: Ryan Lochte Most influential person: My dad or a coach Favorite psych song: Lose Yourself – Eminem Proudest moment: Being a part of the 200 free relay team that broke a 10 year old school record. Favorite post race food: Fruit Must have food pre-race: Banana and multigrain toast Favorite triathlon race: Morton Plant Mease Triathlon or Longleaf Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “You wouldn’t have the desire if you didn’t have the ability to achieve it.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson |
 |
Name: Kristina Ryan
From: Ocala, FL Age Group Category: 15-19 EDT Favorite Triathlon Discipline: The bike Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Football (to watch) Athlete I look up to: Mirinda Carfrae Most influential person: My Grandma Jeanne Favorite psych song: I will survive by Gloria Gaynor Proudest moment: Completing my first triathlon Favorite post race food: Plain Blueberry Bagels Must have food pre-race: Sweet Potatoes Favorite triathlon race: St. Anthony’s Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win.” -Bobby Knight |
 |
Name: Graham Pimentel From: Naples, Florida Age Group Category: Youth Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: The run Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Track/xc Athlete I look up to: Lee Shearer Most Influential person: Grandpa, Peter Phildius Favorite psych song: Remember the name, by Fort Minor Proudest Moment: Purchasing my first road bike with all my carwashing earnings Favorite post race food: A big bob evans breakfast Must have pre race food: Bananas and pasta the night before Favorite Triathlon Race: Youth Elite F1 Clermont challenge Favorite quote: “With great sacrifice comes great reward” |
 |
Name: Malia Ellington From: Cornelius, North Carolina Age Group Category: Youth Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: The run! Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Cross Country/Track Athlete I look up to: Kelly Fillnow Most influential person: My mom-she taught me that I can do anything if I set my mind to it. Favorite psych song: Don’t Stop Believing by Journey Proudest moment: Finishing 3rd at Claremont (my first race back after being injured and 7 and 1/2 months of physical therapy) and breaking 5 minutes in the mile. Favorite post race food: Red Mango (frozen yogurt) Must have food pre-race: Toast with peanut butter and a banana Favorite triathlon race: Tri Latta Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “You can give up, give in, or give it all you got!” ~Unknown |
 |
Name: Summer Kanstoroom From: Saint Petersburg, FL Age Group Category: Youth Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: The Swim Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Football Athlete I look up to: Michael Jordan Most influential person: David Kanstoroom (My Father) Favorite psych song: Glad you came- The Wanted Proudest moment: Earning USA Triathlon All American Honors & Finishing 2nd overall female at the Longleaf Sprint as a 12 year old Favorite post race food: Bananas and Peanut Butter Must have food pre-race: Grilled Salmon the night before, Turkey Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel Favorite triathlon race: USAT Youth Elite National Championships and Relays Favorite sport quote: “Pain is temporary, quitting is forever.” |
 |
Name: Sarah Sykes From: Largo FL Age Group Category: Junior Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: Swimming Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Beach Volleyball Athlete I look up to: Sarah Haskins Most influential person: Swim Coach Favorite psych song: My Time- Fabolous ft. Jeremih Proudest moment: Winning Ironkids National Championship Favorite post race food: Scrambled Eggs Must have food pre-race: Pasta the night before Favorite triathlon race: Morton Plant Mease Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “I’d rather have more heart than talent any day” – Allen Iverson |
 |
Name: Shane Deeley From: Clearwater FL Age Group Category: Junior Elite Favorite Triathlon Discipline: Run/Bike Favorite sport outside of triathlon: baseball and soccer Athlete I look up to: Alistair Brownlee Most influential person: My parents Favorite psych song: Pursuit of Happiness-Kid Cudi (Steve Aoki remix) Proudest moment: Running Cross Country for FGCU Favorite post race food: Fruit Must have food pre-race: Coffee and a bagel with peanut butter. Favorite triathlon race: St. Anthony’s Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” –Jim Ryun |
 |
Name: Coach Jen From: St. Petersburg, FL Age Group Category: Coach Favorite Triathlon Discipline: Bike Favorite sport outside of triathlon: r Athlete I look up to: e Most influential person: s Favorite psych song: ) Proudest moment: U Favorite post race food: t Must have food pre-race: . Favorite triathlon race: n Favorite sport quote: n |
 |
Name: Coach Marc From: Winter Garden, FL Age Group Category: Coach (Masters as an athlete) Favorite Triathlon Discipline: Bike Favorite sport outside of triathlon: Pro Football (to watch) Athlete I look up to: Bubba Watson Most influential person: College Swim Coach Favorite psych song: Drowning – (Avicii Remix) – Armin Van Buuren Proudest moment: when an athlete puts things together in 1 short race after months of hard work and preparation Favorite post race food: Eggs Benedict Must have food pre-race: Coffe(am),Pasta(night before) Favorite triathlon race: St. Anthony’s Triathlon Favorite sport quote: “The overwhelming message from elites is that psychology and support matter more than mesocycles and mitochondria.” –Scott Douglas, Timer, Trainer, Motivator, Enabler -What Makes a Good Coach (article in Running Times - June 2012) |