Kelly Handel Bio
Kelly started racing triathlons as a professional in 2002, upon an invitation to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, after completing a
collegiate swimming career at University of Illinois. She competed internationally from 2002-2004, strictly racing ITU draft-legal style triathlons.
She experienced a few big successes including 2002 Pan American Champion, World Championship Team member and 2002 USAT Elite Rookie of the Year. She
decided to shift her focus in 2005 to non-drafting races, leaning more towards longer distances, up to 1/2 Ironman. In 2007, she lowered her PR in the
1/2 Ironman distance from 4:36 to 4:26, and dropped her bike split from a 2:40 to a 2:26. Since having made the transition to focus more on her cycling
and less on ITU racing, she has found her ‘niche’ in this sport and truely enjoys focusing on running races and the purity of the non-drafting
triathlons and the constant challenges the longer distances provide.
PR’s:
5k 17:28
10k 36:58
1/2 marathon 1:18
1/2 Ironman 4:26
For more information on Kelly, visit www.kellyhandel.com