To the editor:

The 14th annual Twin Lakes Half-Olympic Distance Triathlon, seventh annual Duathlon and third Annual Youth Triathlon on Aug. 8 was a tremendous success. 209 individuals participated: 82 adults in triathlon, 34 in duathlon, 18 on teams and 75 youth. Our youngest registered participant was 6 and oldest was 77. 45% of athletes were female; 55% were male. The participants represented 11 states: FL, IA, IL, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI; and 47 different towns in Iowa. There were 39 athletes from Fort Dodge, Twin Lakes, and the surrounding communities of Clare, Gowrie, Lytton, Manson, Pocahontas, Pomeroy, and Rockwell City. Complete results for both the adult and youth events can be found at https://results.truetimeracing.com/results.aspx?CId=16535&RId=741

The Twin Lakes Event Planning Committee would like to express their thanks to the 100-plus volunteers who helped at the event – the volunteers are the key to the success of this event. We appreciate the support of the sports department at the Messenger who published many articles about the triathlon and duathlon. We also want to thank our generous sponsors: Gold: Baker Electric, Highway Seven Service Center, Optic Ink; Active Health, Traditions at the Little Store. Silver: Brown’s Shoe Fit, Fort Dodge Oral; Maxillofacial Surgery, Gunderson Funeral Home, Jensen Builders, KHI Solutions, Northwest Bank (FD), Pathways Centers, Storm Lake Honda, Twin Lakes Bible Camp, United Bank of Iowa (Rockwell City), Youth Tribe. Bronze: Amigos, Aramark, Heartland Bank (Manson), Josephson Manufacturing, Katie Lunn “Smile”, Newell Farms, Jim; Ann Rodenborn, RoJohn Home Improvement, Shimkat Motors, Twin Lakes Marina & Sports.

All proceeds benefit the youth at Twin Lakes Bible Camp. Next year’s event will be on Aug. 14.

Twin Lakes Triathlon/Duathlon Committee,

Pat and Rick Bennett (Twin Lakes)

Scott Larsen (Twin Lakes Bible Camp)