They Gave it a 'Tri' - Triathletes Compete at Lake Mohawk - Hopatcong NJ News

Photos

Jason Wood (34) of Sparta, N.J. was the first out of the water and the first to finish the triathlon with a time of 1:03:27. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
The Lake Mohawk Country Club in Sparta, New Jersey Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Friends Christine Chlodnicki and Kristin Flake of Sparta, N.J. Flake finished 153rd overall with a time of 1:35:34. Chlodnicki finished 156th overall with a time of 1:36:04. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Swimmers head towards the first buoy. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Swimmers splash along. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Julia Scales (45) of Sparta, N.J. finishes the swim stage of the triathlon. Scales finished in fourth place in the women's Masters division with a time of 1:16:14.11. She finished in 33rd place overall. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Sue Mayer (44) of Lafayette, N.J. about to begin the cycling stage of the triathon. Mayer finished with a time of 1:39:50. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Rob Rohel (31) of Wantage, N.J. finished in third place overall with a time of 1:05:48. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Triathletes make their way up a hill on their bikes. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Jaime Riccio (24) of New York finished the triathlon in 78th place with a time of 1:24:29. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
David Smith (39) of Sparta, N.J. is on point during the cycling stage of the triathlon. Smith finished 8th overall with a time of 1:08:22. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Rodrigo Laureano (34) of Sparta, N.J. finished with a time of 1:15:24. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Maureen Dykstra (40) of Sparta, N.J. low fives some little spectators. Dykstra finished with a time of 1:22:27. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Triathletes and spectators along the course. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Cycling stage of the triathlon in the White Deer Plaza section of Sparta, N.J. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Theresa Miley (41) of Branchville, N.J. has the look of determination. Miley finished with a time of 1:28:02. Miley finished in 9th place in the female 40-44 age category. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Heidi Mountford (48) of Stillwater, N.J. finished in 39th place with an overall time of 1:17:22. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Ryan Edwards of Andover, N.J. and girlfriend Leora Dillon of Sparta, N.J. pose for a portrait. Edwards helped train Dillon for this event which is her first triathlon. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Mike Embleton (42) of Vernon, N.J. with his wife Joy and daughters Cameron and Josie. Embleton finished with a time of 1:34:15. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Jason Wood (34) of Sparta, N.J. was the first to finish the triathlon with a time of 1:03:27. This is the second year in a row Wood finshed in first place. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Team Fitness Coaches Inc. of Sparta, N.J. From left are Walter Frimberger, Len Huffman and Justin Williams. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Father and daughter triathletes Bob Gilson and Laura Gilson of Sparta, N.J. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Group shot of all the top finishers. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Team Eastern poses for a portrait. The team is sponsored by Eastern Propane of Oak Ridge, N.J. The company is a sponsor of the triathlon. Credits: George Leroy Hunter
Lauren Huffman (37) of Branchville, N.J. finished with a overall time of 1:12:00. Huffman finished in 4th place among the top ten female finishers. She took first place in the female 35-39 age group. Credits: George Leroy Hunter

They Gave it a 'Tri' - Triathletes Compete at Lake Mohawk

George Leroy Hunter

Sunday, July 29, 2012 • 1:12pm

SPARTA, NJ - The Third Annual Pass It Along Triathlon at Lake Mohawk took place on Saturday. The Lake Mohawk Country Club was the start and end point of the event. Triathletes from across the U.S. came to swim, run and cycle.

The Triathlon consisted of a 0.5 mile swim, a 10.8 mile bike ride and a 3.0 mile run. Participants began arriving before dawn in anticipation of the 7 am start time. Over 300 athletes were joined by a huge throng of spectators that lined the boardwalk and streets of Sparta to cheer them on.

For the second year in a row, Jason Wood and Tracey Swenson were the top male and female athletes of the Pass It Along Triathlon. The 34 year old Wood finished with a time of 1:03:27.

Swenson who is 49 years old, finished with a time of 1:08:10. Both athletes improved their times from last year. But the triathlon was not just about the fastest times or strongest performance. Many participants just wanted a chance to compete at their best.

For some this was their first triathlon. Triathlete Ryan Edwards of Andover, NJ, has experience in running events and encouraged his girlfriend Leora Dillon of Sparta to enter the Pass It Along Triathlon.

Edwards stated, "This is Leora's first triathlon and I trained her."

The two did not finish in the top tier but felt positive about their performance.

Edwards was asked how he felt out on the course and he simply exclaimed, "I felt elated!"

Dillon echoed his sentiment.

The Pass It Along Triathlon not only attracted elite athletes, but regional businesses that sponsored the event. Newton Medical Center, Eastern Propane, Skyland's Cycling of Sussex County, and Lakeland Bank of Sparta, were among the many sponsors.

For a complete listing of placings and times go to the compuscore.com website at: http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/july/piaind.htm

Get local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter.