Like road races, triathlons have great popularity among Triangle athletes, and one of these endurance events can be found most weekends somewhere around the state.
Here's a report from Jim Young of Young & Associates event organization company on the Lake Kristi Triathlon, where the men's title was won by Raleigh's John Royal and the women's title went to Chapel Hill's Suzie Hosman.
Complete results can be found at www.runnc.com.
LAKE KRISTI TRIATHLON – MAY 30, GRIMESLAND
John Royal is no stranger at the Lake Kristi Triathlon. During the six-year period from 2002-2007, John finished second four times and third once. The only year he did not finish in the top three was in 2006, when he did not compete.
But last year, John finally got the win. But not content with just one victory, the 40-year-old Raleigh resident was back to defend his title.
Todd Torres, 41, of Greenville led the men out of the water after the ½-mile swim in 12:43. Frank Fisher III, 40, of Goldsboro, who had been the fastest swimmer last year, trailed Torres by just six seconds. Royal was in third 28 seconds behind Fisher.
Fisher turned the heat on in the 15-mile bike leg covering the distance in 37:52 – the second fastest split of the day. He began the final 3-mile run with a 25-second lead over Bruce Richter, 38, of Grimesland, Richter, who had been in 7th place after the swim, had fastest bike split of the day (37:01) to move into second. Royal held onto third and began the final leg 43 seconds behind Fisher.
Royal was the only runner to break 20 minutes on the cross-country run moving past both Richter and Fisher to earn his second win in 1:11:19. Richter finished second in 1:12:44 and Fisher, who was third last year, finished third again (1:13:13).
Masters dominated the women’s competition sweeping the top three places. Kate Gordon, 24 of Winterville, had the fastest swim time of any one – male or female – as she exited the water in 11:34. Sarah Anderson, 23, of Greenville was in second place after completing the swim in 12:52. Ann Bogey, 45, of Greenville was in third – 46 seconds behind Anderson.
But by the end of the bike leg, Suzie Hosman had emerged as the leader. The 47-year-old Chapel Hill triathlete, who had been in 4th place after the swim, had the second faster bike split in the women’s field and began the final leg over three minutes ahead of Bogey in second. Anderson was in third – over five minutes behind Bogey.
No one could catch Hosman as she finished in 1:22:29. Connie Glueck, 45, of Williamsburg (VA), took second place in 1:24:29. Glueck, who had been in 23rd place after the swim, had the fastest bike split (42:40) and the fastest run (21:57) to pass all of the women except Hosman. Bogey finished third in 1:26:26 – same place she finished last year.
More than 150 triathletes participated in the event which raises money the Special Olympics.
