6/21/2003
Roly Poly Sprint Triathlon
By Matt Morris
Connie Peterson proved that you can go home again.
The Indiana University graduate returned on vacation from Virginia to see relatives,
but R&R was the furthest thing from her mind. Peterson dominated the Roly Poly
Sprint Triathlon on Saturday, June 21, at Indianapolis’ Eagle Creek Park.
Mike Smith of Brownsburg followed up his Indiana Downs Triathlon victory earlier
in the month with a win over Bryan Boggs of Zionsville.
Smith and Peterson had their work cut out for them from the start, though,
as both the men’s and women’s leaders emerged from the swim in close groups
of five or six.
A mass start usually dissipates, but the men’s leaders came out of the water
en masse with Brent Newcomb of Elk Grove Village, Ill., leading a gaggle of
swimmers consisting of Duane Swisher of Brownsburg, Boggs, and Dave Forsee
and Doug Trumpey of Indianapolis.
Boggs left the transition area first with Smith just seconds behind. The 41-year-old
Boggs knew he needed a strong bike segment to hold off his 42-year-old friendly
rival. Smith had to work hard to stay within reach of Boggs, who at one point
opened a 20-second gap.
Smith kept Boggs within reach, but it came with a price.
While he caught the early leader and crossed the line first with a minute lead,
Smith was hurting. “I was really cramping on the run because I was going so
hard on the bike, trying to keep Bryan in sight,” explained a visibly tired
Smith afterward. Smith won in 49:46, with Boggs crossing in 50:50. Mark Hiskes,
40, of Brownsburg, was third in 53:04.
Carolyn Clay of Indianapolis led the women out of reservoir, followed closely
by Peterson, Louisa Raisbeck of Bloomington, Michelle Harter of Indianapolis.
A quick transition got the 38-year-old Peterson out on the bike first and the
James Madison University health sciences professor gradually built her lead.
She padded her margin during the run and finished in 59:22, nearly two minutes
ahead of Christina Hamm, a 16-year-old from Louisville, who showed her older
competitors that she is a force to be reckoned with. She crossed the line in
1:01:11. Deidra Garines, 21, of Bedford finished third in 1:02:51.
Three Wise Guys captured the men’s team race with Turfworx.com capturing the
women’s team race. Wild Birds won the co-ed division.
The 600 individuals and 50 teams were welcomed with near-perfect conditions:
light winds, low humidity, and temperatures of 65 degrees in the air and 74
degrees in the water.
Competing in his first triathlon was Tony Renna, who drove the No. 32 Cure
Autism/Home Med entry to seventh place in this year’s Indianapolis 500 Mile
Race. Renna said the triathlon was a natural offshoot of his training for the
Indy Racing League. “I run and cycle anyway. It’s great training for my (car)
racing.”
Renna said swimming is his weakest segment. “That’s where I really need to
work.”
Look for several of Renna’s fellow drivers to join him for the final Indiana
Downs Triathlon on August 3 in Shelbyville.
(CLICK BELOW FOR PHOTOS)
http://www.tuxbro.com/Sprint%20Photo%20page03.htm
» Go
Back to Roly Poly News
|
