Citytri Sport’s season opener in Brooklyn, NY began with a record showing of athletes from the metro area. The Slope Sports sponsored event was the first of a five race series, The Gotham Cup Club Challenge, that pits the local clubs and teams against each other. Last year’s winner, The Brooklyn Tri Club, arrived with the largest contingent ready to defend last year’s big win over Asphalt Green Tri Club and SBR. The bike course was shortened to 10.5 miles due to the chilly weather which the race director seemed to think everyone was happy about. The 250+ athletes took off at 8AM racing on paved paths through parts of the Prospect Park often not used by athletes. The 3.1 mile course is hilly with several flats and turns as it goes through Brooklyn’s only forest, past two waterfalls, a tunnel, and hidden gardens. The youngest male participant was the surprising leader on the run, a local teenager who everyone spoke of the olympics when mentioning his preformance. Just 20 seconds behind him though was one of if not Brooklyn’s best triathlete, Greg Close, who quickly took the lead on the bike and held on for decisive win in 1:03:13. Close behind him were Philadelphia’s John Nowoslowski 1:05:29 and Manhattan’s Greg Foos in 1:06:54. The women’s race was a battle to remember as the top three overall winners all finished within a minute of each other. At the end of the first run though it was multiple overall winner Stacy Creamer, from Manhattan, who entered the transition area in 20:59:73, which if you factored in her age would have been a crushing lead, but that isn’t how things are done. So just behind her were the three contenders all within 20 seconds of each other fighting out the top spots, Rebecca Ann Bader from Syracuse, Brooklyn’s own Anna Fyodorova ( I love the last name!), and Allyson Kutler from Manhattan. Rebecca would maintain a 30 second lead as she left transition after the bike while Anna would exit with a 13 second lead on Allyson. It was obvious that they did not want to place 2nd or 3rd as the run developed into race where Allison ran the fastest, 21:33 chasing Anna all the way who also closed the gap on Rebecca. In the end however Rebecca was saved by the finish line as she crossed 8 seconds ahead of Anna who was just 5 second ahead of Allison. We can’t wait to have these three on the course again…it’s getting competitive!!! So congratulations to all the athletes who braved the chilly weather on the second day of spring. We even had people signing up on Friday while large snow flurries were falling out of the sky. If anyone is looking for some inspiration, a real stimulus, or that light at the end of the tunnel they can without a doubt look to these athletes. They say that when the going gets tough the tough get going…well I don’t know of a better example. As for the clubs and teams who we thoroughly believe are the glue that keeps multisport going the leader board has a surprising newcomer, Trilife, in second place with SBR and Team Life in a close race for third, and Brooklyn Tri club in the lead. Five more races to go, two more Prospect Park Du’s, Greenbrook Racing’s Flat as a Pancake, and SBR’s Harriman Tri and Du in August will lead this years Cup competition to be a really interesting and exciting one. Best of luck to all!!!
PICS: http://chronophoto.smugmug.com/Sports/744253
WEB SITE: www.citytri.com
I did this race.
The bike course was shortened to 10.5 miles due to the chilly weather which the race director seemed to think everyone was happy about.
They made that announcement 5 minute before the start, and every athlete seemed to complain about. Who did the race director talk to that gave positive responses? The freezing volunteers? It’s bad enough to shorten a race, but to announce it as you’re lining up on the start?
Overall, it was a nice race, as long as you don’t mind a LOT of dogs on the run course. I’ll almost certainly do it again next year. I just seriously took issue to the course change. The weather was exactly as predicted for the whole week (actually a degree or two warmer). The RD could’ve shortened the race at any time, he could have put it in the mass email that went out to competitors a day or two before the race, they could have said something at registration/packet pickup.
You are right on both counts. We should have announced it earlier although we did get a lot of positive feedback for the change. We also were short a volunteer hence we didn’t have a person at the dog pond to be a crossing guard. Thanks for the input, as always it motivates us to do that little extra that is needed to honor the venue and participants who make such a great effort.
Thanks George for another nice race. I can not complain about the dogs though I nearly ran into one, it is a public park, but they were all over one area.
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I knew to dress warm so I would have liked the extra loop, but I think the majority were happy. I have no problem with race day announcement, I think it is a little different than water temp and swimming. The bike course was very safe.
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this ones the best
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