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HomeNewsArchivesChoppy Seas Made for Extra Work in 2008 Sprint Triathlon

Choppy Seas Made for Extra Work in 2008 Sprint Triathlon

March 9, 2008 — St. Croix resident Dwayne Smith went from the middle of the pack in 2007 to the top finisher in the 2008 East End Sprint Triathlon Sunday morning, but it was not easy.
Participants emphasized how tough the swim was this year off Cramers Park. The ocean was choppy and swimmers had to fight a current.
"It was super windy and the water was really rough," Smith said.
After the swim, came the bicycle leg, and when he hit the running segment, Smith was in third place. He took the lead in running, but never felt secure.
"Every time, we climbed a hill, I felt someone gaining on me." However, coming down the last hill, he said he felt, "I had it."
The weather was near perfect for the running and cycling portions of the race that began at 7 a.m. under bright blue skies on the dry east end. More than 100 athletes competed.
"The biking was great, the sky was clear and the sun not too hot," said Theresa Harper, the first woman finisher. "This first race of the 2008 series is a good measure of what to prepare for in the other races."
Second place for men was Bob Halk. He said it was a great race with a lot of opportunities on the course to see competitors on the run.
Troy Holloway, who took third, credits his 17-year-old daughter, Sissel with the inspiration to race. He said it has taken him three years to beat her in the race. "This is a family thing we do," Holloway said.
Tom Guthrie, race director of the East End Triathlon, commented that the course was really good. It was moved to Cramers Park this year for a less challenging swim.
Besides the major triathlon, the day included a Try-A-Tri, which featured shorter distances. Patty Coleman placed first in the Try-A-Tri. She said she had been ill during the last year and the victory motivated her to get back into the longer race — West is Best that comes up April 6.
The Virgin Island series on St. Croix now includes six races. The series started with the St. Croix Ironman 20 years ago.
The first race in the 2008 series had the sprint distance race featuring an 800-yard swim, 14-mile bike and three-mile run, and was open to individuals and relay teams.
The Try-A-Tri race was a 400-yard swim, six-mile bike and 1.5-mile run. Try-A-Tri was open to children 12 and over.
Guthrie said everything went well and everyone was really having a lot of fun.
The six-race series allows Virgin Islanders the opportunity to compete in professionally produced sporting events, organizers say. These swim-bike-run races allow racers of all calibers to enjoy the rich scenery of the island.
The five remaining races in the series are:
— April 6: West is Best, Cocoanuts in Frederiksted;
— May 4: St. Croix Ironman 70.3 and Sprint, Christiansted;
— Sept. 21: Toyota Wall2Wall, Cane Bay;
— Oct. 5: Stamina Sports Duathlon, Cramers Park; and
— Nov. 16: Caribbean Classic, Buccaneer.

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