TEAM HISTORY

The Boston Triathlon Team has a rich history of racing, training, and fellowship around the sport of triathlon. The team has been together since 1987, and has evolved from the CRP Racing Team to the former Wheelworks Triathlon Team to our permanent name, the Boston Triathlon Team. The name may have changed in the 18 year history, but the essence of the team has stayed the same: to enjoy each other's company while fostering healthy competition and a healthy lifestyle through the sport of triathlon. While the team is primarily focused on the swim, bike, and run aspects of the sport, we also maintain a healthy balance of social events and exploring life outside of triathlon. The members of BTT cross train frequently, organizing cross country skiing escapades, mountain bike rides, leisurely rides followed by copious amounts of coffee, and fun/training swims at Walden pond when things warm up again.

1987
Buddy Iannacco founded the CRP Racing Team in 1987. At the time Buddy was a local triathlete who was an Inside Triathlon All-American. Buddy formed the team with a group of friends who shared an interest in endurance sports, worked out together, shared training tips, raced and, huddled around local bars discussing their love of the sport over a few beers. Not much has changed since then in terms of the team members and the love of the sport, but interest in the sport of triathlon has increased in the past decade, allowing the team to grow and change to meet the needs of a larger group of triathletes.

1995
In 1995, we introduced some significant changes to our focus. The first step was to implement an organized training program and enlist sponsor support. We began to publish a newsletter and made it available to others outside the team in an effort to raise visibility. We also introduced new team uniforms, which considerably raised our profile. Our aggressive membership drive increased our ranks from 20 to over 40 athletes and as a result our presence became well known in the FIRM Grand Prix Series and the New England Triathlon Tour. In '95 we finished 4th of the 6 teams in the FIRM Grand Prix and sent 11 athletes to the triathlon Nationals.

1996
Fresh from our success in 1995, we raised our expectations for the following season. Our roster swelled to over 60 athletes. We leveraged contacts made at Nationals and drew up sponsorship with Powerfoods (PowerBar and PowerGel), Boston Sports Supplement, Marathon Sports (a running specific store in Cambridge), and Pearl Izumi. We began to emphasize group training and expanded our coached swim practices, added training rides, and introduced team track practice to supplement our group runs. All of these resulted in the team grabbing a second place finish in the FIRM Grand Prix Series beating several teams twice as large as CRP Racing. One of our athletes qualified for the World Ironman Championships in Kona, 2 qualified for the World Duathlon Championships in Italy, 2 won their age groups at the National Duathlon Championships, 2 were selected as All-Americans by Inside Triathlete.

1997 - 2000
Between 1997 and 1999 our membership topped 60+ members. We again sent athletes to Ironman in Kona, to Triathlon World's in Australia, and the Nationals in Maryland. The team also added Oakley sunglasses, Charles River Park Sports Therapy, Internutria (Pro-Enhancer and Race Day), the Paramount Restaurant and the 21st Amendment to our complement of 1997 sponsors In 1999, Belmont Wheelworks became the title sponsor for the team. Their size, knowledge, and willingness to help us out was a tremendous sign of support for us, and we were glad to wear their colors. We started an organized "training weekend" up in the hills of New Hampshire, with lots of beautiful mountains and trails, as well as a nice indoor pool, to get in some much needed training after hibernating all winter. As the results clearly show, this training weekend has paid off handsomely. The team once again won the FIRM Grand Prix series.

2001
The year 2001 brought on even more great moments, as we took the Grand Prix race series by storm. Again we won for the fourth year in a row, had eight age group champions. Again, we sent several athletes to various National and World Championships around the globe including 25 BTT members who competed in Ironman Distance events, including two, who represented us at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. We ramped up the social calendar, had a larger and more challenging training weekend, and broadened our sponsorship base to include Ciclismo Classico, Nantucket Nectars and Rudy Project.

2002
In 2002, we officially changed our name to the Boston Triathlon Team, a change which allowed us flexibility with sponsors both present and future. We also brought on International Bicycle Centers (IBC) as our primary sponsor. This relationship enabled the team to give members special access to quality bikes, gear, and a staff of professionals capable of handling all their cycling needs. IBC’s support, along with PowerBar, Nantucket Nectars, and Dunkin’ Donuts is a large part of the team’s ability to become a growing presence in the New England triathlon community. Going on to win the FIRM Grand Prix for the fifth year in a row was a major milestone that solidified BTT as a team with great spirit and dedication to excellence.

Under the lead of Josh Eckel, the Porter Rides took on a brand new life and were kicked off by the first ever BTT King of the Hill competition with Sean Hartman as the hands down winner of a very unofficial polka dot jersey! Five members ranked as USAT All Americans (Jay Marschall, Bill Reeves, David Altreuter, Pat Dwyer, and Rob Sczupak) and four with Honorable Mentions (Annie Fisher, Elaine DeBitetto, Sarah Keller, and Mary Beth Cadwell). Team member Flo Chretien made her first appearance as a newly turned professional triathlete at Memphis in May before going on to place 10th at Ironman Germany.

2003
In 2003 we continued our relationship with International Bike, PowerBar, Nantucket Nectars, and Dunkin' Donuts while adding new sponsors Boston Volvo and Redhook Brewery. This brought the team to a new level and we proudly represented our sponsor at races from Boston to Honolulu, and from Tahiti to Brazil. The team also began volunteering for B.A. Event Promotions with water stop support at the Hyannis Marathon & Half and finish line support at the St. Patrick’s Day Ras na hEireann 5K. All of the B.A. Events raise money for local charity organizations.

For the second year running, the early season BTT King of the Hill competition ramped up with Mat Davenport and Juli Jones taking top honors and trophies. We had 17 members compete locally at Ironman USA in Lake Placid, NY with Juli Jones taking 7th place in her age group. Many others traveled the distance to race IM Brazil and IM Canada. BTT was represented at many of the National and World Champion multi-sport events around the world including the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii (Sarah Keller), Long Course Worlds in Spain (Rachel Saks), the USAT National Age Group Championships in Louisiana (Bill Reeves – 2nd place age group, Jay Marschall – 2nd place age group, Sarah Keller), the USAT National Duathlon Championship in Georgia (Jay Marschall – 1st place age group, Chris Li – 10th place age group, and Sarah Keller – 1st place age group), and the Duathlon World Championships in Switzerland (Chris Li). Pro triathlete and BTTer Flo Chretien competed in the ITU Series and secured a 6th place finish at Honduras.

We had four members ranked as USAT All Americans (Bill Reeves, Elaine DeBitetto, Sarah Keller, and Juli Jones) and two with Honorable Mentions (David Altreuter and Pat Dwyer). In USA Duathlon rankings Jay Marschall was 3rd in his age group and an All American.

2004
The Boston Triathlon Team continued to be a strong presence in 2004 in the New England Triathlon community as well as throughout the US. International Bike, PowerBar, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Redhook Brewery continued with their valuable support enabling the team to bring on some exciting new equipment…the BTT TENT! The blue and green tent became the gathering place for members at key races throughout the season including Fairlee, Monster Challenge, and Ironman USA. The team continued their volunteer support of B.A. Event Promotions, a an organiztion that raises money for local charities. We had even more volunteers than last year helping out at the Hyannis Marathon & Half and the Ras na hEireann 5K.

In its third year, the King of the Hill competition boasted 24 participants with winning crowns going to Matt Pokress and Allegra Calder. HDO Sports, a team supporter and owned by teammate Chris Li, began sponsoring a monthly Time Trial. Several members of the team became active participants and the series gathered momentum with the added incentive of bagels and hot coffee!

BTT members participated in and took top honors at races both nationally and internationally this year. Amanda Pearson and Rachel Saks raced as part of Team USA at the ITU Long Course Worlds in Sweden, and Bill Reeves represented the team once again at the USAT National Championships taking 3rd in his division in Louisiana.

We had 11 members compete at Ironman USA in Lake Placid, NY with Maggie O’Toole taking 1st place Athena and Pete Cadwell finishing as the 7th place Clydesdale. In addition, Terry Reagan crossed the finish line for the fifth year in a row in 2004.

Numerous others represented the team at IM New Zealand, IM Brazil, Coeur D’Alene (IM Idaho), IM Austria, IM Wisconsin, and Caliman. At IM Florida, Juli Jones took 4th place securing her qualifying spot for the 2005 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. In her third year since turning pro, Flo Chretien placed 10th at the Muncie Endurathon Long Course Nationals.

Three members were All American in this year’s USAT Rankings – Bill Reeves, Juli Jones, and Pat Dwyer. Honorable Mentions were given to Amanda Pearson and David Altreuter.

2005
2005 looks to be another incredible year with the kick off of the official "BTT Tent Series" and members scheduled to race in events from Boston to Brazil, and from Hawaii to Germany.

Our support of both seasoned veterans and first-timers proves that the Boston Triathlon Team has something for everyone who enjoys this sport. We welcome all interested athletes to join us in our training rides, swims, and runs as well as our social events. Keep an eye out for the blue and green Boston Triathlon Team uniforms at races all over the world!