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Robert Wade of Arlington and Peggy Yetman of Leesburg are Tops at the 5th Annual Nation’s TriathlonTM
By Jennifer Devlin
Washington, DC
September 12, 2010
For the Washington Running Report
The 5th Annual Nation's TriathlonTM To Benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society took place Sunday in the nation's capital, featuring a record field of 4600 competitors, including Mayor Adrian Fenty, competing in the shadow of our national monuments and memorials. With athletes represented from 976 cities, 46 states, and 14 different countries, the Nation's Triathlon set a new Guinness Book of World Records record for the largest "International Distance Triathlon Event" in the U.S., surpassing the previous record set by the Chicago Triathlon. This USAT-sanctioned Olympic distance triathlon included a 1.5K swim in the Potomac River, 40K bike course through downtown, and a 10K run along Washington, DC's monumental corridor finishing on the scenic banks of the Potomac River.
With a start time of 7:30 a.m., the first competitor crossed the finish line in just under two hours, joining their family and friends at the JetBlue Airways Finish Festival. First among top males was Robert Wade, 28, of Arlington, VA posting a time of 1:57:13. First among top females was Peggy Yetman, 42, of Leesburg, VA with a time of 2:07:20. Washington, DC's own Mayor Adrian Fenty finished in 67th place in the elite division with a time of 2:45:57.
In addition to the general race, there were four "races-within-a-race" featuring federal, military, military academy, and Tri Club challenges. The 3rd Annual CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Challenge took place featuring more than 400 competitors from Capitol Hill and the federal government. Top male and female winners were Juan Valdivieso, 29, with the office of Senator Patrick Leahy with a time of 2:07:04 and Amy Adcock, 41, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with a time of 2:27:36. The CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Challenge Team competition was won by Tri to Touch Us featuring Catherine Brandt, Dan Christiansen, and Patrick Hughes with a time of 2:19:47.
The 3rd Annual UMUC Military Challenge, with more than 600 competitors participating, featured a competition among active duty and veteran service members. Dan Frost, 42, with the Navy was the first male military competitor to cross the finish line, posting a time of 2:06:40. Erika Foster, 39, with the Air Force was the first female military competitor, posting a time of 2:24:53. The winner of the UMUC Military Challenge Team Challenge was Wine Snobs featuring David Merlino, Ange Merlino, and Alex Concannon with a team time of 2:49:53.
The 2nd Annual Commander-In-Chief Challenge featured individuals and teams from four military academies. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point took the top spot among the academy teams and the top male and female competitors were Romedy Murr, 20, with the Military Academy at West Point, who posted a time of 2:02:08 and Jessica Clay, 19, also with the Military Academy at West Point with a time of 2:14:48.
In the newest challenge - The 1st Annual Tri Club Challenge -- Team America featuring Patrick Sanford, Andrew Cronholm, and Matt Goldshore took the top spot among the Tri Clubs with a team time of 2:27:09. The top male and female competitors were Thomas McWalters of Hartford Extended Area Tri Club in Thorndike, ME with a time of 2:05:31 and Sarah Budgen with the San Francisco Triathlon Club with a time of 2:20:28.
The Nation's Triathlon, which is the only triathlon in the country dedicated to building awareness and raising money for the treatment of leukemia and blood-related cancers, raised $3 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this year with nearly 800 athletes competing and raising funds through the Society's (LLS) world-famous Team In Training (TNT) endurance sport training program. To date, the partnership has garnered an estimated $8.4 million for research, patient education, and support initiatives that will help the LLS bring us closer to a cure.
"We'd like to thank all of our competitors and sponsors this year," noted race owners Charles Brodsky and Molly Quinn. "Their participation has helped us reach this tremendous milestone of largest international distance triathlon event in the nation. We invite all our competitors to join us again next year as well as new triathletes from across the nation and worldwide to experience a world class triathlon in a world class destination city."