PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Tri-Aroostook has seen a few changes during its three years of existence, but what has stayed consistent are the names of the champions.
Sarah Gahagan and Shawn Berry earned titles once again at this year’s event, held June 28 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. They have been victorious every year since its inception in 2012.
The local triathlon consists of a 525-yard swim at the Gentile Hall pool, a 10.25-mile bike ride from UMPI, south on the Houlton Road to the Spragueville Road and onto the Chapman Road and back to campus; followed by a 3.1-mile run through fields and trails adjacent to the university.
Gahagan, a Presque Isle native who now resides in Concord, N.H., was the women’s champion with a time of one hour, five minutes and 12.23 seconds. Berry, also a native of the Star City and now living in Bangor, finished in 55 minutes and 44.95 seconds for the overall title.
“I’ve managed to shave a minute off my time each year, so I’m looking forward to five years from now when I can battle Shawn for the title,” joked Gahagan after the race.
“Personally, I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been due to knee issues and the lack of focused training and was giving the ‘pre-race excuse’ in case I didn’t do too well, but I surprised myself with the results,” added Gahagan, who placed sixth overall out of the 55 solo competitors.
She said she was inspired by her mother, Linda, who decided to train for and compete in this year’s triathlon after never before competing in a race of any type. Linda did indeed complete the triathlon and her daughter said it provided a special moment afterwards when both adorned their finisher’s medals.
“It was exciting to discuss our training together and how we felt leading up to the race,” said Sarah Gahagan. “She said after last year’s triathlon that she was going to train for this one, so even though I knew I wouldn’t be living in Presque Isle anymore, I would have to come back and race it with her.”
Berry was pleased with his result as his time this year was faster than the two previous and 40 seconds ahead of last year’s result.
“Key performances happen when proper training meets opportunity, then things just click. It doesn’t happen 100 percent of the time but when it does, the results can be monumental,” Berry said.
“The conditions were very warm with barely a breeze, which favors speed on the bike and a dry running course which made for faster conditions, so overall, I felt great,” he added.
The overall top 10 also included: second, Trevor Levesque of Presque Isle, 1:00:08.54; third, Justin Fereshetian of Mars Hill, 1:01:10.48; fourth, John Hebert of Van Buren, 1:03:41.52; fifth, Dustin Drabek of Presque Isle, 1:05:06.53; seventh, Justin Perry of Presque Isle, 1:08:04.51; eighth, Von Perry of Easton, 1:09:03.53; ninth, Jean-Francois Daigle of Edmundston, New Brunswick, 1:10:28.51; and 10th, Kyle Washington of Presque Isle, 1:11:03.83.
Berry had the fastest times in the swimming (7:02.13) and cycling (28:11.24) legs, while Fereshetian was the fastest on the run (20:09.05).
Kate Parsons of Presque Isle was the second-place female, finishing in 1:12:48.17 and Anja Whittington placed third in 1:14:24.44. Denise Landry-Nadeau of Edmundston, N.B. was fourth in 1:18:14.54 and Stephanie Fields-Beaulieu of Fort Fairfield fifth in 1:18:27.86.
Age division winners were: 15-19 female, Meredith Stewart of Presque Isle; 15-19 male, Drabek; 20-29 female, Parsons; 20-29 male, Fereshetian; 30-39 female, Gahagan; 30-39 male, Berry; 40-49 female, Fields-Beaulieu; 40-49 male, Hebert; 50-59 female, Landry-Nadeau; 50-59 male, V. Perry; 60-69 female, Diane Fleming of Carlisle, Pa.; 60-69 male, Eugene Loring of Old Town; and 70-79 male, Jim Nesbitt of Presque Isle.
Six relay teams took part, with “XTreme Pace,” made up of Brad Barbarula, Levesque and Brian Bell, finishing in 1:00:08.54. Placing second was “2 Chicks & A Rooster,” consisting of Bonnie Wood, Anja Whittington and Stephen Wood, with a time of 1:14:24.44.
Tri-Aroostook Kids was held in conjunction with the regular triathlon, offering shorter distances for youth. Jonathan Kelley, who directed both events, said timing complications prevented winners from being named among youths, but he said that approximately 70 competed.
The overall field of athletes competing in the two was 135 and ranged in age from 6 to 72.
“Despite temperatures over 80 degrees for both events, they were both huge successes,” Kelley said. “That was due in large part to the individual athletes who trained so hard to finish, dedicated volunteers and incredibly generous sponsors who made everything possible.”
Berry is thankful for the work Kelley does in bringing a quality event to The County each year.
“My hat is off to Jonathan and his staff of volunteers,” Berry said. “This event continues to grow in prestige and I know myself and others love supporting his cause and motives.”
