Feature: Far and away

Joseph Boo

Never underestimate the power of a shirt.

Mark Pomerantz’ introduction to triathlon came on the back of Dr. Bob

Cuyler’s racing jersey in 1998. On a boy scout bicycle trip to San Diego,

Pomerantz couldn’t help notice the word, “triathlon” on Cuyler’s back

“I asked him what a triathlon was,” Pomerantz said. “He said that I

should try it, and I would be pretty good.”

After playing a variety of sports and running competitively since

seventh grade, Pomerantz found an activity he could passionately compete

in when he saw that jersey.

Two years later, Pomerantz can accurately be described as pretty good.

The 16-year-old Newport Beach resident and Corona del Mar High junior has

won his first five meets this year and placed second in the Pacific Coast

Triathlon Sunday.

Triathlon is not a sport that is easy to pick up quickly. It’s a

grueling event combining swimming, bicycling and running into one long

race.

Cuyler was also the director of the Pacific Coast Triathlon, which was

Pomerantz’ first competition in 1998. Triathlon is a tough sport, but

Pomerantz completed it. Ever since then Pomerantz found a new love.

“It was not hard at all,” he said. “Instead, it was really, really

fun.”

He completed eight triathlons in 1999 with good times, but Pomerantz

really made a name for himself this year. He won five of his six

competitions including the Bonelli Park series, which combines three

separate triathlons into one event. His second-place finish came against

some of the nation’s top triathles in his age group.

His success made him noticeable to other triathletes. Not just

Pomerantz’ fellow competitors in the 15-19 age group, but professionals

and a former national champion.

He become acquainted with not only with family friend Emilio DeSoto,

but also with female triathletes Michellie Jones and Wendy Ingram.

Pomerantz’ biggest thrill though, came from recently-retired three-time

national champion Mike Pigg. Although he wasn’t asked, Pigg sent a

bicycling helmet to Pomerantz, “a $500 one,” he said.

“I liked it so much,” Pomerantz said. “To me, it’s the equivalent of

getting baseball stuff from Hank Aaron.”

Not only did Pomerantz immerse himself on the course, he dove into the

subject matter outside the races by finding out a lot of factoids about

the sport.

He can quickly explain the triathlon’s history, the politics between

triathlon circles and the Olympic committee and the names of many

triathletes.

“After I got into triathlon, I had to find out as much as I can,” he

said.

It is a rugged determination Pomerantz brings to the sport that has

him heading toward a professional career.

“My parents have been really supportive,” he said. “They know I want

to be a professional. Other parents might think that’s weird, but they’re

totally behind me.”

His main focus is on the triathlons, but Pomerantz juggles that with

CdM’s boys cross country team. He was an integral runner with the Sea

Kings, who placed 12th at the CIF State Division IV finals.

While Pomerantz plans to run with CdM in his senior season, he will

take time off at the start of the season to go to the Nationals.

Pomerantz’ training regiment is also different from the other runners.

He designed his own training routine, and CdM Coach Bill Sumner has

allowed him to alter his practice from the other runners.

Pomerantz’ ambition goes pretty high. “I want to become a proficient

professional,” he said.

His goal is not only to be a professional, it’s to win the vaunted

Ironman competition. That was the goal that popped up in Pomerantz’ head

during his first triathlon.

“I always set high goals for myself,” Pomerantz said.

For now, his immediate future is the National Championship in Missouri

on Sept. 9. Pomerantz wants to win every one of his races until the

nationals, where a top-five finish guarantees a trip to the World

Championships in Canada next August.