From: atkins@mksol.dseg.ti.com (William A Atkins)
Subject: IISA Nationals Middle Distance 10K
Keywords: IISA, Inline, skate nationals
Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 15:56:05 GMT

Greeetings from Plano, Texas, home of the 1992 IISA Middle Distance National
Championships. The racing was fast and the competition literally World Class.
Among the participants: Eddy Matzger, Eric Flaim, Team Hyper, Team Labeda
(including 300meter World Champion Derek Parra), & skaters from Holland, Cuba,
and Italy (including retired 6 time World Champion Guissepe Crusianni, which I
know is misspelled, please forgive.)  

The results of the 10K race:

MALE CAT 1         Age   Time    Notes
1. Derek Parra      22   17:28  (Labeda) 
2. Doug Glass       26   17:28  (Hyper)
3. Steve Carr       27   17:28  (Labeda)
4. Jodon Trevena    20   17:28  (Hyper)
5. Eddie Matzger    25   17:29  (Rollerblade- Notice New Team for Eddie)
6. Jim Bourgeois    30   17:29  (Texas Express - Local Team)
7. Arcton Lancaster 21   17:30  (?)
8. Scott Hiatt      22   17:31  (N.Carolina)
9. Robert Kaiser    29   17:31  (N.Carolina?)
10.Eric Flaim       25   17:31  (Olympic level Ice Skater)

The finish was an icredible sprint downhill into a 90 degree right turn and
uphill about 100 meters to the finish. Derek Parra shot past Doug and Jondon
through the turn and the rest is history. There were a few minor breakaways
during the race but they were all reeled in. IMHO one breakaway that may have
caused some concern came at the start of the final lap with about 1 and a half
miles to go. Local youngster Ben Lucas (age 15) pulled out of the pack and held
about an 8 second lead until he was reeled in with a half mile remaining. He
finished in the pack but he has several years before he reaches his prime. He's
only been racing since December.

FEMALE CAT 2       Age  Time
1. Heather Lacayo   22  19:20
2. Hanne Gamborg    28  19:22
3. Linnea Lindgreh  25  19:23
4. Karen Edwards    32  19:23
5. Diane Pantel     33  19:23
6. Heather Taylor   20  19:30
7. Amy Hunter       30  20:40
8. Lucinda Knox     29  20:42
9. Gypsy Lucas      17  21:07(Local Girl & last year's winner before knee surgery)
10.Rachelle King    15  21:24(Local girl)

Heather pulled out of the pack after about a mile-and-a-half and never looked
back. At one time she held a 25 second lead. I didn't see the finish, but I
suspect she maintained her pace all the way to the finish, while the 4 in the
chase group raced in for second.

I do not have the official results of the 20K races, but I can give some details.
I think the Women's 20K was won by Rollerblade. The race had a lead pack of 3 and
a chase pack of 4 with at least a 20 second difference.

The Men's 20K was a good example of strategy. After 3 of the 10 laps a group of 5
pulled away from the pack: KC Boutiette (Hyper), Doug Glass (Hyper), Eddy Matzger
(Rollerblade), Steve Carr (Labeda), and Chris Hipp (local Cycling star for
Chili's & some Computer company, Cat 2 racer or better in cycling). Their lead
hovered around 15 seconds because the big teams wouldn't lead the chase. After a
couple more laps Steve Carr dropped back to the pack. This opened the way for his
teammate Derek Parra to lead the chase pack. The four in the front rotated the
lead well, while Derek Parra lead the chase pack practically alone. I don't have
the official placements or the time but the first four (in no particular order)
were Glass, Boutiette, Matzger, & Hipp (my guess is by about 10 seconds) followed
by ... everyone else in a mass sprint. (I heard local skater Jim Bourgeois
finished 6th in this as well as the 10K, but don't hold me to that.)

For those interested in the politics of skating, USAC/RS gave IISA a
participation permit for these events to allow USAC/RS skaters the chance to
compete without endangering their USAC/RS standing. Rumors circulated that the
indoor demonstration races were not covered by the permit. This caused most of
the USAC/RS skaters to withdraw from the indoor. Lots of spectators who have
never seen indoor racing came to watch, but there just wasn't enough skaters for
a really good demonstration. The sanction made no mention of the types or
distances of races, but it did include the phrase "Speed events only". 

On a lighter note, the half-pipe Rollerblade stunt team was a real treat to watch
and a real crowd-pleaser. There were lots of booths selling and showing the
latest gadgets and skates. No big surprises yet, but Tom Peterson of Hyper, Bob 
Labeda of Labeda (natch), and Mike Vouklesis of Ultimate Skate (Powerlines) were 
there checking out the racing, showing their equipment, and coaching their teams.
Despite a few minor problems (USAC/RS permit, none of the races started on time,
etc...) overall I believe the weekend was a big hit. Sunday night it was even
mentioned on the local news channel with a 5 second video of the lead four in the
20K Men's race.

Keep on rolling,
Billy Atkins (ATKINS@MCOPN2.DSEG.TI.COM - This is different than my posting
address.)      

These opinions are strictly my own and do not neccessarily reflect the opinions
of TI, my managers, or even my wife.