Results Of VI Dualthlon Announced

ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Triathlon Federation (VITF) held the VI Duathlon Championship race this past Sunday in front of the Divi Carina Bay Casino on southeast end of this island, according to a release issued on Tuesday. With several newcomers on the line, along with seasoned past winners of the event, the field took off for their first leg of the run/bike/run event at 7:00 a.m., according to the release.

The 1.1-mile run was lead by Billy Bohlke, who set a blazing 5:37/mile pace. First-timer Michael Eden was close behind. Once on the bike, both Bolke and Eden were overtaken by VITF Vice President, Stephen Swanton, followed by Dominic Pugliese, Troy Holloway, Wayne Nichols and relay cyclist Sue Brown. Over the course of the 14.1-mile bike ride, several duathletes played cat and mouse, including the top two women, Allison Janusziewicz and Esther Ellis. On the final run Swanton solidified his gold finish in a time of 1:10:10, ahead of Junior Triathlete Dominic Pugliese in 1:11:59 and Dedrick Luikens, who pulled into third place almost immediately at the start of the 3.4-mile run. Ms. Janusziewicz widened the gap on the second run to maintain her lead on Ms. Ellis. Janusziewicz finished in 1:19:27 while Ellis finished second in 1:22:16. Annie Myrvang, in her first duathlon ever, was the third female finisher in a time of 1:24:59, according to the release.

Fresh off of her win at last week’s TTTC race, Amy Roberts lead her two-person relay team from the start. She handed off to cyclist Robin Seila, last year’s VI Duathlon champion, who tried her hardest to stay ahead of cyclist Sue Brown. Brown out-pedaled Seila and brought her two-person team into first place. Roberts pulled the team ahead again on the final run and finished with an overall time of 1:15:04. The team of Rachel Keaveny and Brown was second in a time a 1:16:05, while the team of Heidi Snow and Mark Kennedy took home the bronze, according to the release.

There were three competitors in the Try-a-Du race. Ten-year-old Mason Lambert lead the .5-mile run, ahead of classmate, Kaeden Gleason, and Jamie Wilkins. The three remained in that order for the hilly 8-mile bike and final 1-mile run. Lambert finished in 33:14; Kaeden’s time was 36:30; Jamie’s time was 54:42.