Pine Plains draws big crowd for first triathlon

PINE PLAINS — It was a little past 8 a.m. last Saturday, July 3, when the horn sounded and the first wave of competitors in the inaugural Stissing Sprint Triathlon hit the water.

 The water was Stissing Lake, and athletes diving in were beginning the first legs of the triathlon: a half-mile swim.

“They’d be swimming a lot faster if they knew about the tiger muskies,†was a joke thrown around the shore while the swimmers were rounding the buoys in the middle of the lake.

 It was the Stissing Sprint’s first year; event directors Chris LoBrutto, Charlie Norman and town Recreation Director Jennifer Chase felt it was the perfect way to utilize the town’s scenic landscapes, according to Chase.

 Registrants for the race numbered 126, most as individuals doing all three events but some as three-person teams. Following the swim, a 17-mile bike ride and a 3.3-mile run rounded out the morning.

The top three finishers were Shawn Jackson (1:19:02), Bruce Cadenhead (1:19:53) and William Davis (1:20:57). The top female was Nicole Sin Quee, finishing eighth overall with a time of 1:23:35.

 Cadenhead, from Dobbs Ferry, said that the course was “really nice,†and complemented the vast number of volunteers stationed along the course and helping out at Stissing Lake.

“The bike course went right by my driveway,†Cadenhead said (he also has a house in Pine Plains), “so my whole family was outside cheering for me.â€

 Nik Rogers, from Oakland Gardens, finished nineteenth with a time of 1:30:12.

“I loved the hilly bike course,†he said, “and it was a good run course as well.†Rogers celebrated his finish by leaping into the air to touch the balloon arch over the finish line.

 Runners came from far and wide, but the local athletic pool made a good showing as well. Pine Plains native Gregg Osofsky finished twenty-sixth with 1:31:26, and 18-year-old Millerton native, James Boeding, finished thirty-fifth overall and first in the 19 and Under category with a time of 1:36:14.

 It was Boeding’s first time competing in a full-triathlon (he and two friends competed as a team in the Sharon competition last weekend).

“It was actually easier than I expected,†he said after the race. “I thought I’d be a lot more worn down after the bike ride, but I was amazed by how fast I recovered.â€

 Other local results of note included Bernadette Dangelo from Elizaville, who finished ninth overall among women and first in the female ages 20 to 24 group, and Pine Plains resident Christine Clayton, who finished seventh among female masters athletes.

 All of the profits from the event benefited the town’s recreation department. Following the race a barbecue was held for athletes and volunteers at the Lions Club Pavilion. For a complete list of results visit stissingsprint.com.