Nearly 350 Take Part in Rose City Triathlon

This was in Sunday's Tyler Morning Telegraph. You can also view the complete age group results by clicking here. http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=216359&rsID=83742

Nearly 350 Take Part In Rose City Triathlon

LAKE TYLER -- The East Texas Triathletes team hosted its Second Annual Rose City Triathlon Saturday at Lake Tyler.

The USA Triathlon event benefited Hospice of East Texas. A total of 347 competitors, more than double of last year's 163, took part in the 650-meter swim, followed by a 14 mile bike leg and a 3.1 mile run. Despite persistent rain, many spectators cheered the triathletes during the swim and run portion of the day.

The 29 & under class begins the 650-meter swim during the second annual Rose City Triathlon Saturday at Lake Tyler.

Chauncey Deller finished first in the men's division, finishing with a time of one hour and 2.53 seconds, followed by 2008 Robert E. Lee graduate Brady O'Bryan, who finished in a time of 1:03.48 and UT Tyler cross country coach Bob Hepler (1:05.20).

Karen Robertson, from Grapevine, finished first in the female overall with a time of 1:18.19. She was followed by Natalie Bach from Marshall (1:21.31) and Joanna Hamilton from Mesquite (1:21.38).

The race was promoted as beginner-friendly, and included a relay team category which encouraged participants who otherwise wouldn't have competed. The Tyler Bicycle Club supplied cyclists to team up with local swimmers and runners to form the relay teams.

The conditions forced a last-minute altering of the swim course, but Kami Nedbalek of East Texas Triathletes said director Steve Farris oversaw a successful race.

"Steve's many years of triathlon experience prepared him well for the challenges of directing a race with such an increase in the number of participants," Nedbalek said.

Major sponsors for the race included: Peltier Nissan, East Texas Medical Center, American Gold and Diamond, Farris Machine, Hossley-Embry Attorneys and Counselors, Urology Tyler, PA, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Syler Veterinary Clinic, Alan's Lawn & Landscape, Arlington Physicians, Texas State Optical and Racquet and Jog.