Sept. 23, 2004

Union Holds First Triathlon

LINCOLN—On Sept. 19, Union College hosted a triathlon, an event many campus athletes and volunteers hope will become an annual tradition. The triathlon was held at Branched Oak Lake near Raymond, Neb., and was completely student led. The sprint-format triathlon consisted of swimming one-quarter mile, a five-kilometer run and a 10-kilometer bike ride. More than 50 students and friends of Union competed in the event individually or in groups of three.
        “The triathlon was awesome,” said Carissa Hawronsky, a participant in the group competition. “It was well-organized and professional. I would love to see it happen every year.”

Triathlon Winners are as Follows: (Hometowns are listed for Union College students)  

Male individual winners: first place, Jess McCullough; second place, Seth Johnson (Clear Lake, Wis.); third place, Nick Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.).
        Female individual winners: first place, Melanie Santos (Gettysburg, Pa.); second place, Ashleigh Fishell (Grand Junction, Colo.); third place, Heather Elias (Butte, Mont.).
        Group competition winners: first place: Walter Anderson (Oakdale, Calif.), Quintin Blood (Brighton, Colo.) and Sam Salcedo (Baton Rouge, La.), second place: Darby James (Centralia, Wash.), Mike White (Hedgesville, W.Va.) and Ryan Erickson (Centerville, Ohio), third place: Kristen Elder (Martell, Neb.), Gabe Gonzalez and Ron Elder.
        Collegiate Adventists for Better Living (CABL), an organization that promotes positive lifestyle choices, sponsored the event. Prizes were given by the Lincoln Racquet Club, GNC at 5400 S. 56^th St., Bike Peddlers, Wal-Mart, Papa Johns, Juice Stop, YMCA and Hosea Mutai, Union College student who represents Diadora shoes.
        CABL plans to make the triathlon an annual event.