Celebrating exceptional athletic achievements in the sport of triathlon, Competitor Magazine hosted the 17th Annual Competitor Endurance Sports Awards at Sea World. Chrissie Wellington earned the prestigious Female Triathlete of the Year at the sports award show. She is recognized for her undefeated season, winning all six races and defending her Kona Ironman World Championship title.

Later in the evening, the Short Distance Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year was awarded to Becky Lavelle. She garnered wins at the Chicago Triathlon, Los Angeles Triathlon and Malibu Triathlon while competing in 13 races throughout the 2008 season. Lavelle earned the overall Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series title and her consistency in the short course races places her as one of the fastest females in the sport today.

Mary DeScenza claimed the women’s Southern California Grand Prix high point award as the four-day event came to a close on Monday in Long Beach. She currently holds the top position in the overall Grand Prix series’ standings with four meets remaining on the six-meet circuit.

“Winning here feels amazing. I’m having fun and just enjoying myself in these Grand Prix meets. I’m going to keep on racing in the series and go for the overall high point prize,” said DeScenza.

At the Belmont Plaza Olympic swimming pool, DeScenza won five events and took two second place finishes to take home the bonus award for the meet. On the final day of racing, she captured first place in the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 52.06 and a second place in the 100-yard backstroke.

Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers earned the male high point award in a competitive field. Ending the meet as he began, Grevers captured first place in the 200-yard medley and the 100-yard butterfly while garnering a second place finish in the 100-yard backstroke.

On the third night of the USA Swimming Southern California Grand Prix, Matt Grevers set the course record in the 50-yard freestyle. The victory time of 19.15 improved his own course mark set last year in Long Beach.

“I felt good,” said Grevers. “I’m working on a new stroke and it paid off. I’m excited to see what I go when I shave and taper.”

A touch behind Grevers was William Copeland who earned silver with a time of 19.70.

With one more day of racing in Long Beach, Mary DeScenza maintains the top position in the overall standings by winning two more events. DeScenza shaved more than a second off her personal best to win the 50-yard freestyle sprint event in 22.66 and secured gold in the 200-yard freestyle with another personal best of 1:43.93.

After winning her first two events at the USA Swimming Southern California Grand Prix, Mary DeScenza continues to hold her overall point lead in the six-event series.

DeScenza first brought the crowd to their feet by setting an American Record in the 200-yard butterfly and then again with a new course record in the 200-yard backstroke; improving upon the former mark by over half a second.

Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Grevers won gold in the men’s 100-yard freestyle, followed by William Copeland with silver and Adam Ritter to round out the podium. Grevers also earned silver in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:40.42, while Ritter earned bronze just behind his Tucson Ford teammate.

On the second stop in the six-meet USA Swimming Grand Prix Series in Southern California, U.S. National Team Member and four-time NCAA Champion, Mary DeScenza, broke the seven-year-old American Record in the 200-yard butterfly. DeScenza finished in an impressive time of 1:51.28, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:51.91.

 ”I broke the American Record. I am so excited. After such a tumultuous year, it feels great to break it. It’s been a long time coming,” said DeScenza after her win.

DeScenza also holds the American Record in the 200-meter short course butterfly set at the 2008 SC World Championship in Manchester.