FACES IN THE CROWD
RUDY KAHSAR
BOULDER, COLO. > TRIATHLON
Kahsar, a 23-year-old chemical engineering graduate student at UC-Boulder, won the overall title at the age group national championships in Burlington, Vt., in 1:52:18. He was first in the 40K bike split (56:34), had a personal best in the 10K run (33:28) and was 35th in the 1,500-meter swim (20:36). In April he won the collegiate national championships; he is the first athlete to win both titles in the same year.
ALISSA BROOKS-JOHNSON
PE ELL, WASH. > TRACK AND FIELD
Alissa, a junior at Pe Ell High, won the 100- (15.42) and 300-meter (44.44) hurdles, 200 meters (25.58) and long jump (18' 0") to lead the three-person Lady Trojans to their second straight state title. She is the first girl to win four individual events at the 2B state meet. Her father had jokingly promised a Chevy Camaro if she won quadruple gold at states; he put the cash toward college and a Honda Civic.
MARCUS TITUS
TUCSON > SWIMMING
Titus, a 25-year-old national team member, set world records for the deaf in the 50-meter breaststroke (27.79), 50 free (23.46) and 100 free (51.42) at the World Deaf Swimming Championships in Portugal. He won five individual gold medals, one individual bronze, one relay silver and two relay bronzes to lead the U.S. to the team trophy. Earlier this summer he won bronze in the 100 breaststroke at nationals.
KELANI BAILEY
NORFOLK > RACQUETBALL
Kelani, a senior at Maury High and the nation's No. 1--ranked girl in the 16-year-old division, won silver in the 16-and-under singles and doubles, along with partner Mercedes Arias, at the Junior World Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo. Kelani qualified for the national team in June with her third straight singles age-division championship at the USA Racquetball Junior Olympics.
ANSELM LEBOURNE
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. > TRACK AND FIELD
LeBourne, a 52-year-old retired NYSE analyst, won gold in the 50--54 age group in the 800 meters (2:01.30) and 1,500 meters (4:15.87) at the World Masters in Sacramento, for his third double win of the events in his career. LeBourne ran the fastest ever outdoor 800 meters for his age at the New Jersey Invitational in June (1:59.33). He also owns American age group records in the indoor 800 and 1,500.
KATE WALKER
COLUMBIA, MO. > POWERLIFTING
Walker, a 62-year-old human resources manager who took up powerlifting after developing osteoarthritis, set world records for her age group (60--64) in the 70-kilogram weight class for power squat (77.5 kg), bench press (45 kg), and deadlift (112.5 kg) at the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation championships in Muskegon, Mich. Last year she won her age group and weight class at worlds in Ireland.
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REWRITE
Following the move last week of Ravens lineman Michael Oher from left tackle to the less crucial right side, SI re-imagined the cover of Michael Lewis's 2006 best-seller, The Blind Side, which declared Oher the future of the NFL's most important position.
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ROB HELVESTINE (KAHSAR)
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CHRIS JOHNSON (BROOKS-JOHNSON)
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ARIZONA ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS (TITUS)
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MALIA BAILEY (BAILEY)
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AISHA BROOKS (LEBOURNE)
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DOUG HARDESTY (WALKER)
