Oct. 10, 2005

Navy women's cross country and track & field junior Justine Whipple (Duxbury, Mass.) claimed first-place out of a field of 71 competitors in winning the 2005 ITU World Triathlon Age Group Championship on Sunday in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Whipple, who competed in the 20-24 age group, covered the 1.5 swim, 40k bike and 10k run in a career-best two hours, 10 minutes and 11 seconds. She finished 49 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Alison Coyle from Australia.

The Navy junior completed the swimming portion of the triathlon in 24 minutes and two seconds, then transferred from the swim to the bike in one minute and 34 seconds. Whipple performed the 40k bike in one hour, six minutes and 59 seconds. In the final portion of the triathlon, she registered the world's best time in the 10k run with a showing of 37 minutes and 37 seconds.

Whipple qualified for Sunday's competition by winning the national qualifier in Shreveport, La., where she owned a time of two hours, 16 minutes and 57 seconds back in September 2004. Five months prior at the regional qualifier, Whipple completed the Tri-America Series Triathlon with an effort of two hours, 20 minutes and 57 seconds in Clermont, Fla.

As a member of the Navy women's cross country team, Whipple possesses the Mids' top-time in three races this season. Most recently at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa., the junior raced to a career-fastest mark of 21 minutes and 30 seconds over the 6k Goodman Campus course. Earlier this year, Whipple received Patriot League Runner of the Week honors for placing 14th out of 210 runners at the Fordham Invitational.

Whipple also competes in distance events for the women's track and field team. During her career, the Duxbury, Mass. native has served Navy in the indoor and outdoor 5k, as well as the indoor 3k and outdoor 10k.

The Navy women's cross country team concludes its regular season this Friday in the Star Meet at Army, starting at 4:45 p.m. The Midshipmen women's track & field squad opens its 2005-06 campaign versus American and Towson on Dec. 1 at Halsey Field House.