Kevin Konczak

MILWAUKEE — Alpena native Kevin Konczak, representing Boulder, Colorado, captured the gold medal in the M 55-59 age group at the USA National Triathlon Olympic Distance Championship on Saturday, Aug. 9. The national championship, considered the most competitive race in the country that is hosted by USA Triathlon, draws top athletes from across the U.S. vying for titles in their respective age groups.

Konczak, 56, delivered a dominant performance, dethroning the defending 2024 U.S. Champion and outpacing the national champions of the younger 50-54 and 45-49 age groups. He also finished ahead of all but two competitors in the 40-44 age group. The next oldest competitor was nearly 15 years his junior.

Konczak’s victory was built on a powerful combination of a strong swim, followed by the fastest bike and run splits in his age group. He surged ahead of the defending champion, Victor Perini, and former professional triathlete and former World Champion from Poland, Gregory Zgliczynski, in the final mile of the bike leg. Starting the run in a virtual tie, Konczak swiftly pulled away, securing his first U.S. Olympic Distance Triathlon National Championship with a comfortable lead of nearly five and a half minutes.