‘Perfect’ weather had during Tri Community Tri

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: The ninth annual Tri Community Tri is this Saturday in Pima. Online registration at tricommunitytri.com is open until Aug. 25 with in-person registration continuing until race day.

jon@gilavalleycentral.net

PIMA – The conditions were picture perfect for those who wanted to subject themselves to a race involving swimming, biking and running.

The Tri Community Tri made a triumphant return for its eighth annual race after suffering from cancellation last year. The race was once-again held entirely in Pima, but Mother Nature seemed to approve as the weather was an ideal temperature between 68 and 74 degrees for most of the race with just a slight breeze to help bikers up steep hill climbs. There was even a slight sprinkle after the race during the award ceremony to help cool the racers off.

Racers commented on the efficiency of the event, from the volunteers at aid and water stations to the easy-to-understand race course.

Brian and Angela Paull, triathlon aficionados, took over organizational duties this year from the event’s creator, Cherla Ramsey, who recently Ramsey moved from the area. Ramsey was still on hand for the race, however, to see how her baby, and her son who finished first overall in the mini race, would perform.

This year, the sprint race consisted of a 625-yard swim, a 15.74-mile bicycle ride and a 3.14-mile run.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: Race co-organizer Angela Paull awards Rayden Ramsey with his medal for first overall in the mini triathlon.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central:
Race co-organizer Angela Paull awards Rayden Ramsey with his medal for first overall in the mini triathlon.

“I think it went great,” Angela Paull said. “We’re happy with how it turned out . . . A lot of people enjoyed the bike race, and the run was a little better. They said that the big loop was easier to understand (rather) than going back and forth.”

The race was truly a family-friendly event as various family’s had multiple contestants in the sprint and mini.

Jason Moulton, of Queen Creek, took the trip down to the Gila Valley to spend time with family and participate in the race. He ended up taking first place overall in the men’s division with a time of 1:20:21. Samuel Crandell finished in second with a time of 1:26:02, followed by Roger Charlson at 1:29:23.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: Jason Moulton took a trip to the Gila Valley to visit family and finish first in the Tri Community Triathlon.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central:
Jason Moulton took a trip to the Gila Valley to visit family and finish first in the Tri Community Triathlon.

“It was a lot of fun,” Moulton said. “It was my second time doing it . . . My sister lives here, so I stayed with them and got to see the cousins (and) do a race; and the weather is awesome.”

Amanda Goodman took home honors and finished first overall in the women’s division with a time of 1:31:29, followed by Dee Scott, with a time of 1:34:36, which just edged out third place finisher Bonnie Richardson, who finished with a time of 1:35:43. Richardson previously participated in the Boston Marathon the year the finish line was rocked by an explosive.

While this year’s race was sort of a throwback to its origins with just 50 racers for the sprint and 18 children in the mini, the Paulls hope a return to incorporating all three communities in the race next year will bring more participants back to the event.

“We’ll see what things we can improve on and get more people out here,” Angela Paull said.

For a complete list of times for all participants in both the sprint and mini triathlon races visit ceptiming.com/recent-results/.

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