To the editor:

The Twin Lakes 10th annual Half-Olympic Distance Triathlon and third annual Duathlon was held Aug. 6, at the Big East State Park and the Twin Lakes Bible Camp. Eighty-three individuals and 12 teams registered for the competition. The 121 athletes ranged in age from 14 to 74. The participants represented nine states – California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Washington – and 41 different towns in Iowa. There were 24 athletes from Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities of Barnum, Duncombe, Lake City, Manson, Pocahontas, Rockwell City and Storm Lake.

Reese Linder, Cedar Rapids, won the men’s triathlon championship with time of 59.58, upsetting the five-time triathlon champion Taylor Huseman, Milford (originally from Manson). Taylor finished second with time of 1:03:34. Shaylyn DeYoung, Pocahontas, won the women’s triathlon championship with time of 1:12:48.Triathlon team champions were “The Barbarians” (father Kevin Gaul and sons, James and Thomas) from Pella with a time of 1:12:31. Duathlon male champion was Jonathan Estabrook, Muscatine, (59:30) and the duathlon female champion for second year in a row was Jen Childress, West Des Moines (1:16:42). Complete results can be found at truetime.racetecresults.com/results.aspx? CId=16535&RId=82

Our 120 volunteers are the key to making this a safe and successful event. We also appreciate the support and help of the Department of Natural Resources, Calhoun County EMT, Iowa State Patrol, sheriff, and the county engineer. Promotion of the event by The Messenger and other local newspapers helped increase the number of local participants.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors who provide money to help underwrite this professional event and provide prizes for race participants.

Gold: Twin Lakes Bible Camp, Cargill, Okoboji Expedition Co.

Silver: Twin Lakes Marina, Brown’s Shoe, Jensen Builders, Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Services, KHI Solutions, United Bank of Iowa (Rockwell City), Pathways Centers, Northwest Bank, Kemna Auto.

Bronze: Decker Trucking, Jim Rodenborn Family, Josephson Manufacturing, Newell Farms, RoJohn Construction, Shimkat Motors, JB and MaryAnn Black, Dan McGough, Aramark, Road ID.

Pat Bennett

Rick Bennett

Twin Lakes Triathlon

directors

Twin Lakes

Scott Larsen

Twin Lakes

Bible Camp