Polson hosts first triathlon
Berl Tiskus
A cyclist races through miles of farmland along Eli Gap Road, southwest of Polson.
Berl Tiskus
Matt Seeley, Polson Triathalon race director, sprints past Polson High School Saturday followed by his escort Tel Motichka.
Berl Tiskus
Quinn Harlan, left, Tegan Bauer and Amanda Stobie help man the Polson High School Cross Country Team aid station during the Polson Triathlon. Their theme was superheroes, and they had special cheers for their cross country coach Matt Seeley.
Berl Tiskus
A somersault makes entry into the Flathead River more fun for a male triathlete as he begins the Polson Triathlon.
Berl Tiskus
Three triathletes head for the docks at Riverside Park Saturday as they finish their 1.5 kilometer swim, only to head for their bicycles for round two.
Berl Tiskus
The cycling portion of the triathlon begins at Riverside Park and an uphill climb to Kerr Dam Road, Valley View Road, Eli Gap Road and then Back Road before the cyclists return to Riverside Park.
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POLSON — With a 1.5 km (0.93 miles) swim, a 40 km (24.9 miles) bike course through Valley View Road, Eli Gap Road and Back Road, and finishing with a 10 km (6.2 mile) run looping through Polson, the first Polson Triathlon kept athletes busy Aug. 18.
Starts and ends were all at Riverside Park, and an army of volunteers in highlighter green shirts kept the event running smoothly, according to race director and racer, Matt Seeley.
“I felt really good about how the triathlon came together,” Seeley said, “although it was a challenge logistically for me.”
Seeley thanked all the volunteers, the local sponsors, the Polson Police Department and Street Department and the Search and Rescue crew for the way they came together.
“We had a good turnout for the first year,” Seeley added. “We can make it a real regional event.”
The first three women and men finishers each earned $250, $150 and $100 respectively. Seeley said the committee would like to up the prize monies, but they had to provide many things, such as buoys, bike racks and other race equipment. They still made a little money, enough to donate some to Mission Valley Aquatics.
The finish was close. Andrew Drobeck and Seeley finished first and second with 1/100 of a second separating them.
(For complete statistics, go to www.polsontriathlon.com and click on results.)
Top 10 finishers were:
Men
1. Andrew Drobeck, 31, 2:00:18
2. Matt Seeley, 42, 2:00:19
3. Charles Dumke, 46, 2:05:33
4. Lane Seeley, 40, 2:07:21
5. Jesse Carnes, 27, 2:07:39
6. Swiad Worms, 21, 2:13:48
7. Elliot Bassett, 29, 2:20:19
8. Jo Van Cutsem, 35, 2:26.12
9. Greg Vanichkachom, 35, 2:27:12
10. Shea Carlson, 31, 2:27:36
Women
1. Sue Huse, 38, 2:19:06
2. Laura Balis, 28, 2:22:28
3. Ali Bronsdon, 28, 2:29:33
4. Alison Forney-Gorman, 40, 2:31:43
5. Jessica Johnson, 31, 2:32:33
6. Scarlet Kaplan, 16, 2:34:36
7. Edie VanBuskirk, 49, 2:35:03
8. Aja Starkey, 16, 2:37:17
9. Jenni Brown, 34, 2:43:12
10. Mary Widener, 33, 2:43:58
Teams
1. Team Alaska — Karen Dion, Tom Peichel, Fiona Peichel, 2:27:28
2. Thane Girls — Emilie, Mary, Lindsay Thane, 2:31:04
3. Slow But So Hot — Dan Cripe, Travis Kehl, Dan Cravy, 2:32:22
4. Rounder Chicks — Deanna McElwee, Heather Mergenthaler, Wendy Sitter, 2:42:19
5. Super Sonic Seeleys — Tana, Malia and Luke Seeley, 2:43:58
6. Faster and Hotter — Amy Mack, Jennifer Cripe, Tracey Cravy, 2:49:32
7. It’s All Muscle — Ryan Gage, Jeff Heninger, Adam Smith, 2:52:42
8. Shipwrecked — Jennifer, Brady and Wade Shipley, 2:57:37
9. Lost in Transition — Patti Waterman, Julie Young and Anna Young, 3:03:41
10. MKK — Melody Nelsen, Keri McWilliams, Kobi Ratzurg, 3:17:45
