This year’s Armed Forces Triathlon was one of the largest assemblies of top-caliber talent in recent memory. The field boasted several former World Military Games competitors, Ironman military division champions, and even a handful of ITU competitors with their eyes on the Olympics. Yet, as is often the case, the appearance of a star-studded cast played led to familiar roles being played and few plot twists in the final act.

The greatest drama of the day was the men’s race, where the trio of ITU pros James Bales, Derek Oskutis and Nicholas Vandam made the final podium arrangement anyone’s guess. The young Army Lieutenant Vandam looked strong with an opening gambit out of the water that put him just ahead of Navy’s Oskutis and a full minute in front of Bales. Though Scott Tonder (Air Force) and Sam Dannenbring (Navy) crushed the bike course with an average speed of 28 mph, they never closed within less than two minutes of the front-runners before T2. Bales and Oskutis slowly reeled Vandam in over the bike course, and the three left out for the run almost shoulder-to-shoulder. From there, Bales relied on patience and confidence bred over his years of experience to outrun Oskutis by a mere forty four seconds. Vandam finished third to Oskutis by roughly the same margin. 

In the women’s race, Lieutenant Kathy Rakel had her hands full getting on the bike, with Air Force teammate Colleen O’Connor and Coast Guard’s Laura Springer exiting the water in nearly the same time. It didn’t stay that way for long, though. As expected, Rakel motored away from her pursuers on the bike, laying down the best split of the day at 59:22. Coast Guard’s Rachel Beckmann was only two seconds slower on the bike, moving her from last place into a position to threaten the podium as she started the run. But the team of Rakel, sisters Erin and Colleen O’Connor and Jolene Wilkinson sewed up the top four spots for the Air Force. 

In the final results, the Air Force defended its crown across the board, with Bales, Rakel and the men’s and women’s teams all repeating last year’s success. Navy finished second in the team standings for the second time since Air Force broke their five-year winning streak last year. Looking a bit better than last year was the Marine Corps’ men’s team, who moved up a position over Army, though their women’s team still finished last. 

With the matter decided until next year, rivalries are put aside and the focus shifts to the World Military Games in July. The top six finishers in each race qualify to represent the US Armed Forces in Rio de Janeiro. The teams are as follows:

Men’s Team

Captain James Bales – Air Force

Lieutenant Derek Oskutis – Navy

Lieutenant Nicholas Vandam – Army

Lieutenant Scott Tonder – Air Force

Lieutenant Colonel Greg Price – Marines

Bradley Pigage – Navy

Women’s Team

Lieutenant Kathy Rakel – Air Force

Captain Colleen O’Connor – Air Force

Lieutenant Erin O’Connor – Air Force

Staff Sergeant Jolene Wilkinson – Air Force

Lieutenant Rachel Beckmann – Coast Guard

Lieutenant (JG) Laura Springer – Coast Guard

It was a big racing weekend for military athletes in other parts of the country, as well. The US Military Academy at West Point took second place honors in men’s, women’s and overall team standings at the National Collegiate Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Naval Academy Women’s team won their category. Special congratulations are due to Cadet Marcie Nordt and Midshipman Tracy Fridye for placing third and ninth in the women’s race, respectively. More coverage of the AFTC, the Service Academy triathlon season, and the World Military Games to follow.

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Jim Gourley graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Astronautical Engineering. He served seven years in the Army as an infantry and intelligence officer in the 101st Airborne Division. An Iron-distance triathlete, he writes on technological developments and military athletes in triathlon for LAVA.