Tara Comer, a triathlon coach and founder of the Triathlon Club of New England, has been named chairperson of the USA Triathlon Women’s Committee.
The USA Triathlon Women's Committee is focused on expanding opportunities for female athletes of all levels and socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, they will be concentrating on the quality of training opportunities available for women and encouraging more women to become involved in the national and international associations that govern the sport.
Comer, who manages her own business Tri Kula Coaching, is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach and ERYT yoga instructor. She has been an endurance athlete for more than 15 years, competing in Olympic and Half Ironman competitions. She lives in Providence, R.I., with her husband and two sons.
“Our outgoing chairperson, Awilda Harrington did a remarkable job re-activating and strengthening the committee,” said Comer. “With more women participating in triathlons, I’m looking forward to building on our success as a training resource and also growing and inspiring women to become involved in the governance of our sport.”
Comer noted the diversity and strength of the Women’s Committee. “We have returning and new members who bring a wealth of experience and wide range of triathlon talent to furthering the mission.”
In 2012 the Women's Committee distributed two matching, reimbursable $1,500 grants to support programs directly involved with women in the sport of triathlon. Comer says the grant program will continue in 2013. More information will be posted on the USA Triathlon website and also on the Women’s Committee Facebook page.
USA Triathlon Women’s Committee:
Tara Comer, Chair (Providence, R.I.), Northeast Region
Comer, owner of Tri Kula Coaching, is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, Founder of the Triathlon Club of New England, and a yoga instructor. She has been an endurance athlete for more than 15 years, competing in Olympic- and long-distance competitions.
Brenda Barrera (Williamsburg, Va.), Mid-Atlantic Region
Barrera is a writer and editor who has covered running and multisport in the Mideast and Mid-Atlantic regions in print, online, digital and social media platforms. A competitive age grouper since 1985, she races in sprint- and Olympic-distance events.
Kelle Burke (Coral Springs, Fla.), Florida Region
Burke is the Owner and Managing Director of In the Zone Event and Sports Management. She has produced and managed running and multisport events including the I Tri'd 5 to 15 Kids Triathlon series. She has served on Florida Region Council since 2005. She has competed in and finished several Ironman competitions.
Ella Haile Dunn (Nashville, Tenn.), Southeast Region
Dunn is a partner with Accelerated Conditioning and Learning, LLC., an educational resource on injury prevention and athletic performance improvement for athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, personal trainers, athletes and parents. She has been a Council Member of the Southeast Region since 2011.
Lana Fountain (Houston, Texas), South Midwest Region
Fountain is the Director of Emerging Initiatives for the Society of Women Engineers. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Tri-Unify (a national non-profit organization for multi-sport athletes of color).
Susan Haag, Board Liaison (Jacksonville, Fla.), Florida Region
Haag is a practicing attorney and a veteran multisport athlete with more than 20 years of competitive experience. She was elected to the ITU Women’s Committee late last year and was a member of Florida Regional Council.
Barb Lindquist (Alta, Wyo.), Rocky Mountain Region
Lindquist was a member of the 2004 USA Olympic Triathlon Team. Her professional resume includes World Championship Elite Team Member for 10 years (1996-2005) and she was ranked No. 1 in the world from 2003-2004. She is currently the USAT Collegiate Recruitment Coordinator, identifying talent for our Olympic pipeline from the NCAA swimming and running ranks. She is also a coach, motivational speaker, and mother of twin boys.
Allison Ware (Nashville, Tenn.), Southeast Region
Ware is a Group Sales Executive with Humana covering Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas. She has been a Council Member of the Southeast Region since early 2012. She began pursuing triathlon in 2003, having completed over 30 races of varying distance since. She also competes in marathon swimming events.
The USA Triathlon Women's Committee is focused on expanding opportunities for female athletes of all levels and socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, they will be concentrating on the quality of training opportunities available for women and encouraging more women to become involved in the national and international associations that govern the sport.
Comer, who manages her own business Tri Kula Coaching, is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach and ERYT yoga instructor. She has been an endurance athlete for more than 15 years, competing in Olympic and Half Ironman competitions. She lives in Providence, R.I., with her husband and two sons.
“Our outgoing chairperson, Awilda Harrington did a remarkable job re-activating and strengthening the committee,” said Comer. “With more women participating in triathlons, I’m looking forward to building on our success as a training resource and also growing and inspiring women to become involved in the governance of our sport.”
Comer noted the diversity and strength of the Women’s Committee. “We have returning and new members who bring a wealth of experience and wide range of triathlon talent to furthering the mission.”
In 2012 the Women's Committee distributed two matching, reimbursable $1,500 grants to support programs directly involved with women in the sport of triathlon. Comer says the grant program will continue in 2013. More information will be posted on the USA Triathlon website and also on the Women’s Committee Facebook page.
USA Triathlon Women’s Committee:
Tara Comer, Chair (Providence, R.I.), Northeast Region
Comer, owner of Tri Kula Coaching, is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, Founder of the Triathlon Club of New England, and a yoga instructor. She has been an endurance athlete for more than 15 years, competing in Olympic- and long-distance competitions.
Brenda Barrera (Williamsburg, Va.), Mid-Atlantic Region
Barrera is a writer and editor who has covered running and multisport in the Mideast and Mid-Atlantic regions in print, online, digital and social media platforms. A competitive age grouper since 1985, she races in sprint- and Olympic-distance events.
Kelle Burke (Coral Springs, Fla.), Florida Region
Burke is the Owner and Managing Director of In the Zone Event and Sports Management. She has produced and managed running and multisport events including the I Tri'd 5 to 15 Kids Triathlon series. She has served on Florida Region Council since 2005. She has competed in and finished several Ironman competitions.
Ella Haile Dunn (Nashville, Tenn.), Southeast Region
Dunn is a partner with Accelerated Conditioning and Learning, LLC., an educational resource on injury prevention and athletic performance improvement for athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, personal trainers, athletes and parents. She has been a Council Member of the Southeast Region since 2011.
Lana Fountain (Houston, Texas), South Midwest Region
Fountain is the Director of Emerging Initiatives for the Society of Women Engineers. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Tri-Unify (a national non-profit organization for multi-sport athletes of color).
Susan Haag, Board Liaison (Jacksonville, Fla.), Florida Region
Haag is a practicing attorney and a veteran multisport athlete with more than 20 years of competitive experience. She was elected to the ITU Women’s Committee late last year and was a member of Florida Regional Council.
Barb Lindquist (Alta, Wyo.), Rocky Mountain Region
Lindquist was a member of the 2004 USA Olympic Triathlon Team. Her professional resume includes World Championship Elite Team Member for 10 years (1996-2005) and she was ranked No. 1 in the world from 2003-2004. She is currently the USAT Collegiate Recruitment Coordinator, identifying talent for our Olympic pipeline from the NCAA swimming and running ranks. She is also a coach, motivational speaker, and mother of twin boys.
Allison Ware (Nashville, Tenn.), Southeast Region
Ware is a Group Sales Executive with Humana covering Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas. She has been a Council Member of the Southeast Region since early 2012. She began pursuing triathlon in 2003, having completed over 30 races of varying distance since. She also competes in marathon swimming events.