 This year's competition stepped up a notch at the 4th annual event, July 30. The Extreme Outfitters' DINO Triathlon had nearly 130 triathlon competitors and 30+ in the kayak variation.
A large number of first time triathletes and first time XTERRA athletes took the plunge into France Park's clear rock quarry lake. Ideal trail conditions and a little break from the prior week's heat made for a good race day.
Patrick Valentine and Michael Green led the swim, both under 13 minutes, with Jim Vance behind. Vance moved quickly past Valentine and Green into the bike course. The day's fastest cyclist, Jim James, was gaining on Vance during the 2-lap bike route to enter T2 with only a small deficit. Vance's 24:47 run split sealed the fate as Vance won by over three minutes. Jim Vance, an Xterra Pro athlete
currently residing in San Diego, had given a free question and answer session during check-in the night prior. Jim James and Michael Green, both of Michigan, rounded out the top three overall.
Beverly Enslow (Metamora IL) used her fastest womens bike split to overcome a deficit from the swim. Her finish at 1:45:08 put her two minutes up on second, Gabriela Baranova (the fastest female swimmer). Enslow has advanced one spot in the last three DINO Triathlon events: third, second, and finally the win in 2005.
The top Kayak wave athletes were Larry Niehaus and Eric Schroeder of Valparaiso. Schroeder's lightning-fast paddle and solid bike segments were not quite enough to hold off Niehaus' run speed. Debi Hutcheson topped the women's kayakers.
RACE PHOTOS
RACE RESULTS
For More information: http://www.DINOseries.com/tri |
