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Payson Sprint Triathlon 2011 June 16, 2011
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall course completion time, including timed "transitions" between the individual swim, bike, and run components. Whew! Let's look at photos!
Warming up before their numbers are announced these tri-athletes exchange pleasantries and size each other up and think about the coming competition.
Bob Young sits on the sidelines waiting for his number to be called. In the male Age group Young finished second with an overall time of 1:19:56.
Trenton Hodges has his number written on his left arm by Payson Parks and Recs. employee Tasha McIntyre. Hodges finished 8th in his age group of 15-19.
Mark Atene was sucking air as fast as he could during the most challenging portion of the Sprint Triathlon, for most competitors.
Knifing through the water like this tri-athlete, with the slimmest profile possible, is the best attack when waves of other swimmers disrupt your timing and flow.
Ezra White takes off as swiftly as he can and gets those legs pumping to establish a solid rhythm and pace.
Dannika Nielsen isn't far behind Ezra White at the start of the second phase of the Triathlon. In her age group of 15-19 Nielsen finished first with a time of 1:50:20.
Matthew Gordon has the cool headgear for competitive cycle racing. Age group 15-19 finisher- first place and a time of 1:22:10.
While Jodi Ehrlich swam laps at the beginning of the Triathlon, husband Jeff Ehrlich and daughter Kyra made a sign displaying their support.
Kristin McPhee kept ahead of the pack and didn't bother to wave to anyone as she focused on the road ahead. With a time of 1:32:29, she was the first woman across the finish line in her age group of 20-29.
1:15:21 is a good time for a man in the 30-39 age group and John Argue picked up speed as he cruised along.
Nick Rose had the coolest job of the day as he manned the sound equipment at the finish line for Payson Sound.
#40 Matt Blaha, #43 Curtis Briggs, and #56 Jason Whitley all finished within seconds of each other as they raced to the finish line. Their times were: Blaha, 1:34:15, Briggs, 1:30:58, and Whitley, 1:21:48. Whitley may have been behind the other two at the finish line but his overall time was better.
Kayla Gardner, left and Dannika Neilsen ran to the finish line in tandem, not caring so much about the time as they were about being comrades in the race.
Krista Neilsen is all smiles as she rounds the last corner on her way to the timing pad. Neilsen finished fourth overall with a time of 1:26:52.
Patrick O'Keeffe Jr. finished seventh in the 20-29 age group with a time of 1:42:50.
Matthew Gordon, right and Ezra White kept pace with each other up to the final turn on the way to the timing pad, when Gordan pushed just a little harder an put a little more distance between himself and White.
Jodi Ehrlich held her own and left the triathlon with a third place finish in her age bracket and a total time of 1:33:13. Apparently having support from your family can make a difference in your attitude and time.
Tanner Hodges gave a final push at the end and lowered his overall time of 1:31:25 to place fourth in the 15-19 age group and was seven seconds ahead of the fifth place runner.
Slowing down as he crossed the timing pad Matthew Gordan was the first person to finish the race. It doesn't mean he had the best time but he was glad to cross over and catch his breath. He was first in his age group of 15-19 with a time of 1:22:10 and that put him in thirteenth place overall.
After taking off his leg monitor Gordan just sort of collapsed for a few minutes and took several deep breaths as Ezra White walked around with his hands on his hips. Great race, see ya next year!
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Question of the week
Do you think new Principal Anna Van Zile has a valid idea in eliminating the Asst. Principal and replacing it with an Athletic Director position that would share her duties as Principal?
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