April 3, 2007 -- Team EndurancePTC is pleased to announce the athletes who will represent the Bay Area's professional women's triathlon team in its inaugural season. The three athletes include: Kelly Couch, the 2006 USAT Rookie of the Year and two first year professionals, Olympic-distance and 70.3 specialist, Lara Brown and Tyler Stewart, the 2005 and 2006 Overall Amateur Champion at the Ironman World Championships.
Formed to help develop professional triathletes in the early stages of their careers, all athletes will be tested and coached by Endurance Performance Training Centers (www.enduranceptc.com), the Bay Area's leading testing and training facility. The team will receive financial and product support from sponsors that include: Benchmark Capital, BMC Bicycles, Clif Bar, CycleOps, Fit2Race, FRS Antioxidant Health Drink, Lombardi Sports, Louis Garneau, Presidio Sport and Medicine and the Trium Group.
The team will focus on a combination of Olympic, Half Ironman and Ironman distance events and will kick off the season at California 70.3 on March 31. For a complete list of the 2007 racing schedule go to www.enduranceptc.com.
Team bios:
Lara Brown is a native of Portland, OR who now lives and trains in Northern California. She recently left
a career in the Air Force to pursue triathlon full-time and will focus primarily on Olympic and Half Ironman distance triathlons. She is a coach and eCyclingTM instructor at Endurance Performance Training Centers. 2007 is her first year racing as a professional triathlete. Key 2006 results: Baja 70.3 Overall Amateur Champion, Escape from Alcatraz Overall Amateur Champion, Treasure Island Triathlon Overall Amateur Champion, Malibu Triathlon Overall Champion, 70.3 World Championships - 2nd AG.
Kelly Couch grew up in Denver, CO and now lives and trains in the Bay Area. After racing as an amateur triathlete in 2005, she turned professional in 2006 competing in Olympic and Half Ironman distances. She finished her first year as a pro as the top American woman at the 70.3 World Championships and was named the 2006 USAT Rookie of the Year. Key 2006 results: Wildflower Long Course - 6th Place, Escape from Alcatraz--9th Place, Vineman 70.3 - 5th Place, Chicago Triathlon 9th Place, Pacific Grove Triathlon - 5th Place, Scott Tinleys - 3rd Place, 70.3 World Championships - 10th Place (top American).
Tyler Stewart grew up in Connecticut doing a variety of sports from track to equestrian. In 2003 she did her first triathlon as a dare and has never looked back. Since then her accomplishments include back-to-back Overall Female Amateur titles at the 2005 and 2006 Ironman World Championships in Kona, breaking the course record each year. In addition to her triathlon training, she and her husband, Johnny, own and operate a dog-sitting, walking and grooming business in San Francisco called WAGS and also serves as an eCyclingTM at Endurance Performance Training Centers. 2007 is her first year racing as a professional triathlete. Key 2006 results: Ironman New Zealand - Overall Amateur Champion, 2nd Place Overall, Vineman 70.3 - Overall Amateur Champion, 3rd Place Overall, Ironman World Championships - Overall Amateur Champion (new course record).
For more information on Team EndurancePTC contact
Diane Henry at dhenry@enduranceptc.com.