Junior triathletes shine at Top Gun

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Saturday ushered in the third annual Junior Top Gun Triathlon at Fort De Soto Park, and local triathlete Shane Deeley came away as the morning's top performer.

Deeley, 18 of Clearwater, was the overall champion in the juniors F1 division. He completed the 400-yard swim, 6-mile bike and 1.5-mile run in 34 minutes, 10 seconds to cross the finish line nearly a minute ahead of the field.

John-Gerard Farese, 16 of St. Petersburg, came to the line in second place. His time was 35:02.

Caleb Hudak, 15 of Seminole, took third with a time of 35:41.

Among the women's results, Summer Kanstoroom of St. Petersburg earned a silver medal. Kanstoroom, 13, clocked in at 39:06.

Clermont's Ciara Hopkins claimed the women's championship with a time of 38 minutes.

The 11- to 14-year-old division had to traverse a 200-yard swim, 4-mile bike and 1-mile swim to complete the Junior Top Gun Triathlon, and a number of local athletes won age group championships.

Stephanie Hernandez of Clearwater was the top 11-year-old female after crossing the finish line in 26:07.

Matthew Wohlwend of St. Petersburg claimed the 11-year-old male championship in 26:22.

The top 12-year-old male was Seminole's Jared McFadden, who cruised to victory in 25:57.

Austin Simmons of Largo finished nearly three minutes ahead of the field to win the 13-year-old male division in 24:09.

Angelica Ambrose of Seminole grabbed the 14-year-old female championship after clocking in at 27:51.

In the 7-10 division, a trio of locals covered the 100-yard swim, 2-mile bike and half-mile run fast enough to claim age group wins.

Mac Lastinger of St. Petersburg took the 8-year-old male age group after edging Groveland's Joel Hovius by two seconds at the finish line. Lastinger's time was 19:27.

Largo's Ava Sykes was the fastest 9-year-old female after crossing the finish line in 17:08.

Clearwater's Coleman Inglima made it a Pinellas sweep in the 9-year-old division after winning the male competition in 17:19.

WATERMELON SERIES: Jon Mott of St. Petersburg was second overall at the third race in the 16th annual Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series in Lakeland on Saturday. The race had 705 competitors.

Mott, 23, needed just 15 minutes, 31 seconds to complete the 5K race. He finished only 27 seconds behind race winner Jeremy Criscione, also 23, of Bartow.

Mott was also credited as the winner of the men's 20-24 division after nudging Lakeland's Scott Mackley by two seconds.

SIESTA BEACH TRIATHLON: A number of local triathletes were age group winners Saturday at the Siesta Beach Olympic and Sprint Triathlon.

In the Olympic triathlon, Katherine Van Allan of Palm Harbor was the fastest runner in the women's 45-49 division in a time of 2:43:45.

Angelica Compton of Clearwater won the women's 15-19 group after crossing the finish line in 2:42:30.

In the sprint triathlon competition, the following runners were age group winners: (M10-14) Mitch Irwin, Oldsmar, 1:13:47; (F25-29) Yova Borovska, St. Petersburg, 1:13:37; (F55-59) Clare Kelley, St. Petersburg, 1:17:44; (F70-74) Mark Parish, Clearwater, 1:28:52.

Whitney Lasseter of Palm Harbor was the overall women's champion in the duathlon competition. She broke the tape in 1:07:46.

Joan Stolz of Tarpon Springs was the women's masters champion after crossing the line 1:13:27.

Clearwater's Jessica Parish was the women's 55-59 group winner in 1:18:48. Sue Van Allan of Palm Harbor was the women's 60-64 group champion in 1:35:10.

HIGHLANDER ADVENTURE RACE: Craig Phillips of Clearwater was the 60-64 group winner at Saturday's Highlander Adventure Race in Bartow.

It was the second age group win in two weeks for Phillips. Last week, the 61-year-old claimed first in the 60-64 division at the Picnic Island Adventure Run by more than seven minutes. With the win, Phillips completed the Picnic Island Adventure Run sweep, finishing top of his age group at all three races.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/community/junior-triathletes-shine-at-top-gun/1182445

US military Recession Peter Beardsley Wildlife Weir Andrew Cole