More than 3,500 participants crossed the finish line of the 25th annual
St. Anthony’s triathlon in St. Petersburg on April 27. Athletes of all ages
and abilities, from pros competing for the $60,000 purse to elite amateurs
racing for $10,000 to those hoping to erase the word ‘newbie’ on
their multi-sport status, swam the .93 mile course in Tampa Bay, biked
24.8 miles along the waterfront and then ran 6.2 miles through some of
the area’s prettiest real estate.
Locals who completed the historic event that provides awards ten deep
in the age group included Joel Dodds, 46, Rockledge, 2:31:06; John
Fitzgerald, 39, Cocoa, 3:35:01; Chris Gaston, 56, Satellite Beach,
3:11:01; Tom Hoffman, 56, Melbourne Beach, 2:28:11; Elly Kabbord, 24,
Cocoa Beach, who raced elite amateur in 2:26:28; Cliff Leffler, 41, Cocoa,
3:04:16; Deborah Marino, 51, Indialantic, 3:41:16; Rich Marino, 57,
Indialantic, 3:08:18; Mike Melton, 33, Melbourne, 2:55:35; Wes Ott, 53,
Cocoa Beach, 10th age group, 2:20:50; Juan Posada, 50, Rockledge,
3:09:04; Tricia Rydson, 35, Melboourne Beach, 2:30:09; Andre Swierzbin,
53, Melbourne, 9th Clydesdale 50+, 2:50:47; Karla Torpy, 50, Melbourne,
3:53:43; Tommy Turek, 32, 2:45:44; Mark Wolfgang, 35, 2:19:45.