WINCHENDON — With temperatures in the upper 70s, low humidity, a near cloudless sky, and tepid water, conditions couldn’t have been better for the nearly 290 people who began Sunday’s Mass. State Triathlon at the Lake Dennison State Recreational Area in Winchendon.
The triathlon consisted of a .9-mile swim around Lake Dennison, a 22-mile bike ride through Winchendon, Gardner and Templeton, and a 6.2-mile run along the back roads of the Toy Town. The event draws competitors from around the country.
Next year the triathlon, held at Dennison for the past dozen years, will serve as a district Olympic qualifier. In the past it has been selected as Best of the U.S. Qualifier for Massachusetts in and held rotation as USA Triathlon’s Northeast Regional Championship.
This year’s top finisher, competing as a member of the Nor’easter Elite Club, was Evan Culbert. The Johnston, Iowa native finished the course in 1:46:05.5, more than a minute and a-half better than second-place finisher Lucas Pozetta of Merrimack, NH, running for Peak Triathlon Coaching, who recorded a time of 1:47:38.5.
Ginger Reiner of Lincoln, Mass., running for Team Psycho, was the top women’s finisher, crossing the finish line in 2:04:41.9. Sarah Eck of Contoocook, NH placed second for the women, clocking a time of 2:07:13.2.
The top local triathlete was Phillipston’s Christopher Lake, with a combined total of 2:20:02.6. Lake completed the swim in 22:37, the cycling portion in 1:04:31, and the running leg in 55:17. Lake was competing in the Clydesdale division.
Kim Callicoatte of Shutesbury, competing in the women 50-55 division, finished with a time of 2:42:38.5.
Other area finishers included Bill Austin of Baldwinville (2:41:53.8), Kelly Hoisington of Gardner (2:42:07.2), Stacy Hughes of Templeton (2:52:49.2), and Mark Brown of Athol (3:03:24.5).
The Mass State Triathlon is organized each year by Max Performance Sports of Middleton, Mass.