Share: 

Lost in transition: Triathletes and duathletes run and bike

Swim cancelled due to small-craft warnings
June 13, 2019

The 19th annual Cape Henlopen Triathlon and Duathlon was contested June 9 at Cape Henlopen State Park.

The ocean swim leg of the triathlon was cancelled due to an easterly wind and small-craft warnings. The first leg was a soft-sand run, which knocked the socks off many of the athletes.

John Tower of Annapolis, Md., was the duathlon male champ in 1:02.28. He was followed by Chris Peun in 1:03:50, James Drumm in 1:08:48 and Martin Rodriguez in 1:15:05.

Rodriguez was the fastest runner in the field, throwing down a time of 18:52 for his final 5K leg, but he just lost too much time on the bike.

“I borrowed a mountain bike and I’m not a biker, so I just tried to survive out there,” Rodriguez said.

Lindsay Long of Wilmington was the overall women’s winner in the duathlon in 1:14:19. She was followed by Katey Stazzone in 1:15:38 and Christine Hopkins in 1:16:03.

The sans swim triathlon open male race was won by Dane Burkholder of  Ephrata, Pa., in a time of 50:48. He was followed by Jack Diffendarfer in 52:10 and Anthony Kline in 54:31.

There were 45 male competitors in the triathlon.

“People were pretty understanding about the swim being cancelled,” said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “And the best news was everyone was safe and went home.”

Alison Verbanas of Oxford, Pa., was the female open winner in the triathlon with a time of 58:43. She was followed by Michelle Diffendarfer in 59:16 and Sara Carter in 59:47.

Twenty-five women completed the triathlon.  

“It’s a small race, but all the competitors seem to love it,” Bamforth said. “The Cape state park personnel do a great job protecting the athletes.”

 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter