By Staff
The 23rd annual Niles Triathlon and Duathlon and 5K Run was held under ideal weather conditions Saturday at Barron Lake and on the roads of Howard Township.
More than 275 athletes from throughout the Midwest came to Niles to participate in one of the oldest events in the Michigan Grand Prix series of triathlons.
The Niles Triathlon and Duathlon is the major fund raising event of the Niles Noon Optimist Club. Profits from this event are used to support the many youth activities and community service projects conducted by the Niles Noon Optimist Club throughout the year.
The triathlon course is a one half-mile swim followed by a 17.5-mile bicycle ride and a five-mile run.
The duathlon begins with a five-kilometer run and then joins the triathletes for the last two events. Several athletes chose to run only the five-kilometer run.
The overall winner of the triathlon was Peter Bolen of Ann Arbor. Sarah Burge of Wheaton, Ill. was the overall woman's winner. D.J. Hanback of South Bend, Ind. in second place was the highest finishing local resident.
In the duathlon, Thomas Estka of Chicago was the overall winner, and Carol Lewis of South Haven was the overall woman's winner. Ken Glick of Bremen, Ind. was the highest placing local resident, coming in sixth place.
In the relay triathlon, Goshen, Ind. residents Donald Sager, Dave Berkey and Dave Bussard took top honors.
Anthony Zann of Elkhart, Indiana and Amy Masternak of Livonia, Michigan were the top men's and women's finishers in the five-kilometer run.
Please contact race director Bob Rhynard at (269) 684-4694 for additional information.