Youth tri a success in second year
PRESQUE ISLE — With an increase in participants over the first year event in 2012, and momentum growing for the sport of triathlon in northern Maine, organizers of the 2013 REDY…Set…Let’s Go! Youth Triathlon are calling the event a huge success.
Contributed photos/Dave Allen Graphics
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Braden Bouchard transitions to the bike during the second stage of the youth triathlon held Sept. 8.
CALLIE JUNKINS finishes the swim stage of the youth triathlon as race director Jonathan Kelley cheers her on.
COLBY CARLISLE of Presque Isle ran to the victory in his age group at the Sept. 8 youth triathlon held at UMPI.
Held on the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus Sept. 8, advance registration grew by 50 percent over the first youth triathlon held in Aroostook County a year ago. The REDY…Set…Let’s Go! Youth Triathlon is a partnership of Healthy Aroostook, a program of the Aroostook County Action Program; TAMC and UMPI.
“This triathlon was a huge success, surpassing our expectations. While the day was anything but ideal in terms of weather conditions, it was the heart, determination, along with cheering from family and friends that saw each young athlete persevere and finish. The smiles, all day long, were contagious,” said Jonathan Kelley, race director for the youth triathlon.
The triathletes, ages 7 to 14, completed the traditional three legs of a triathlon. They began with the swim portion in the Gentile Hall pool, navigated a bicycle course through the heart of the campus and finished with the run portion on the south and west sides of the Gentile Hall complex.
Triathletes between the ages of 7 and 10 swam 50 yards, biked two miles, and ran one-half mile. Participants between the ages of 11 and 14 swam 100 yards, biked 2.5 miles, and ran one mile.
The top female finisher in the 7-8 age group was Isabella Keegan with a time of 18 minutes, 48 seconds. Coming in second in that division was Jane Morningstar with a time of 19:0. Austin Brennan had the best time among males in the 7-8 age group at 15:33 and Carson Cushman came in second at 17:36.
In the 9-10 age group, Samantha McCrum was the top female finisher at 16:16 and Delaney Alward was a close second at 16:25. The top male finisher was Colby Carlisle at a time of 14:27, followed closely by runner-up Connor Demerchant at 14:42.
Grace Bemis was the top female finisher in the 11-12 age group at a time of 22:35, followed by second-place finisher Teagan Ewings at 24:41. The top male finisher for 11-12 year-olds was Trace Cyr with a time of 25:34, with Wyatt Fullen placing second in 25:42.
Sarah Beaulieu paced the field in the female 13-14 category with a time of 21:02. Anne Deweyert came in second at 24:06. Max Bartley was the fastest in the male 13-14 group, completing the course in 23:04. Dustin Alward was right behind in 23:06.
Throughout the event, organizers emphasized staying safe, having fun and enjoying the benefits of participating in healthy physical activity.
“The youth triathlon fits perfectly with the goals of our program. It was wonderful to see youth from throughout Aroostook County taking part in the event,” said Carol Bell, Healthy Aroostook project director for ACAP. “We are so pleased to partner with UMPI and TAMC to offer this event to children and teens in our area.”
Kelley, Bell and others credit volunteers with ensuring the triathletes stayed safe and had an enjoyable experience. The event was supported by over 60 volunteers from TAMC, UMPI, ACAP and other local organizations. They assisted on the course, in the pool area and in the transition area. Volunteers also helped with registration, setup and takedown, refreshments and other tasks.
“We couldn’t be happier with how the youth triathlon turned out, at how much fun local youth had participating in it, and how well the volunteer team came together for the event. Despite less than ideal weather conditions, everyone enjoyed themselves,” said Linda Schott, UMPI president. “It has been so rewarding for us at UMPI to have shared in this collaboration with TAMC and Healthy Aroostook and to see the results — lots of kids in the community excited about exercise and healthy living.”
UMPI and TAMC were lead partners for both the REDY…Set…Let’s Go! Youth Triathlon and this past June’s Tri Aroostook, which boasted a 50-percent increase in participation over 2012’s inaugural event.
TAMC President and CEO Sylvia Getman is pleased to see the interest in triathlons grow in The County.
“We enjoy collaborating on opportunities to provide fun, safe, and healthy ways to get members of our community moving,” said Getman. “It has been especially nice to see the number of our own TAMC team members involved in making these two triathlons happen. We had a significant number of volunteers support both the adult and youth events. Equally impressive was the number of employees, and children and grandchildren of employees, that participated in the triathlons.
“We are most grateful to Jonathan and our fellow lead partners – UMPI and Healthy Aroostook, as well as the numerous sponsors for both events that are key in helping to not only encourage healthy lifestyles, but grow the sport of triathlon in northern Maine,” she added.
