Athletes test tenacity in last week's Scofield Triathlon
By TERRY WILLIS
Sports reporter
For an event that was once destined for extinction, the Scofield Triathlon has taken another step in becoming a national event. On Saturday, July 18, participants from as far away as North Carolina gathered to test themselves in a sport that seems daunting to most.
Race organizer Burke Priest decided that in order move the race to the next level he would need help. So he teamed up and sold the event to BBSC Endurance Sport race promoters, considered one of the west's best race organizers and promoters. To name a couple the organization already sponsors and promotes the Bear River Classic and the Kokopelli triathlon out of St George.
This is the highest altitude road triathlon in the nation at over 7,600 feet. It is also the only triathlon held on a scenic byway and is gaining a national reputation as a premier event.
Again this year there were four venues in which to participate, a kids event and the Sprint class for those wanting to get a taste of a triathlon.
However, there were no easy events, the distances for the Sprint event included a .75 K swim, 20 K bike ride (12 Miles) and a 5K run (3 miles). For more serious contestants the Olympic distance race started with a 1.5 K swim, a 40 K (24 miles) bike ride and a 10 K (6 mile) run.
And if that wasn't long enough there was the escape from Scofield event. This started with a swim off the island back to the Mountain View boat ramp for a distance of 1.75 miles. The bike ride took the participants up past the mine to the tip of Electric lake and back for a total of 37 miles. Finally finishing off with a 10 mile run.
In the Kids event Isaac Preston, Kaysville, took first for the boys and Miranda Graves took the honors for the girls. For the Sprint event it was Zachary Meinzer, Cedar Hills finishing with a 1:07.26 for the men and Stephanie Tomlin, Salt Lake, with a time of 1:20.09 for the women.
Brad Gilson, Draper, was running in his fifth event. He just took up running triathlons a year ago and blew the field away with a time of 2:06 in the Olympic event. Kara Bonehead, Springville bested the women with a time of 2:27.
In the Escape distance, 51 participants started the grueling course and 46 completed it. Jason Cromptom, Evanston, completed the course in 3:37.08 min. Jeanette Schellinberg took top women's honors with a time of 4:19.33 minutes.
Locally Brock Fausett of Price finished 12 overall in the Olympic distance and first in his category. In the sprint class it was Brad Crompton taking 14 and Scott Crider coming in at 23 from Price as the top local finishers. Cromptom was first in his age group while Crider was fourth. Scott Merrell and Steve Carlson each took third in their respective categories and Boyd Thayne was second in his.
For the women, Gina Crompton was 82 over all and took fourth in her age group. Cami Carlson grabbed a fourth in her group followed by Brooke Tabone at fifth and Kathryn Clark at 11. Gina Needham-Sacco placed in her group at ninth.
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