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Highlands Today

Locals Chart Familiar Course

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: July 14, 2008

SEBRING - When Max Copley ran in her first Heartland Triathlon last year, she admittedly didn't quite know what to do once the race was underway.

"I didn't really know what it was all about," Copley said. "I waited for my friends and my sister, but this year, I told myself, 'I'm just going to keep going.' "
Copley did just that, as she was one of 10 Highlands County residents to win divisions during Sunday's third annual Highlands Triathlon, a 1/4-mile swim, 14-mile bike ride and five-kilometer run around Lake Jackson and downtown Sebring.
Copley got through the course in 1 hour, 27 minutes and 36 seconds, beating out a group of fellow Blue Streaks in the 15-19 female division, including softball standout Ricki Albritton, Division-I basketball talent Whitney Lee, cross-country standout Amanda Kennedy and three-sport star Hannah Shoop.

"I didn't know where I was once I got out of the water, so I just got on my bike and took off," Copley said. "My goal was to beat (Sebring basketball coach Mike Lee) and I did, and it just feels really good to be done."

Getting that first triathlon under his belt was Sebring distance-running standout Connor Bauer, who took top honors among 15-19 males with a blistering 1:12.46, good enough for 30th overall.

Bauer nearly missed out on the race and had to rush to the starting line because he'd forgotten his mother was required to sign a waiver before he took to Lake Jackson. When pen met paper, Bauer, 16, raced to the starting line and into the water.

"I'll be a little more prepared next time," said Bauer, who noted he plans on running another "tri" in two weeks. "I was a little sore because I didn't taper my training well enough. The swimming was rough for me, but the running was good - I didn't expect to win."

The same can be said for Sebring's Justin Williams, who won the 30-34 male division in 1:18.03, his first division victory in three tries at the Heartland Triathlon.

"The toughest part for me is the run," said Williams, who's competed in three triathlons this year after taking time off last year to enjoy being a newlywed. "It rained a little bit on me when I was on the high school track, but once I got in front of the court house, it just came down."

Someone else who experienced the weather firsthand was Holly Chamberlain of Lake Placid, who took top honors in the 30-34 female division with a 1:19.27. She said the rain and wind "brought another element" to an otherwise great race.

"This is definitely one of the most well-organized races I've been to," Chamberlain said. "The course is wonderful and the volunteers do a great job -- they keep it safe and the transitions are smooth. I really enjoyed it."

Heidi Crutchfield of Sebring took third overall among women with a 1:15.30, narrowly edging out Sara Meagan Quinty of West Palm Beach by two seconds for the trophy. Robert Aldredge of Venus, meanwhile, won the 25-29 male division with a 1:04.52, good enough for sixth overall among men.

Laura Griffin of Sebring also took home a trophy: She took the 50-54 female division with a 1:23.15, while Avon Park's Walter Nunnallee won the 55-59 male division with a 1:16.09.

Kathy Edgemon of Lake Placid won the 15-39 "Athena" division with a 1:33.08, while Diego Perilla of Sebring won the male "Novice" division in 1:23.56 and David Stephens of Sebring won the male "Fat Tire" division in 1:25.36.

For top finishers in each division, see Sports page 2.

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com.

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