Triathlon draws big number

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
July 11, 2003
One of the oldest triathlons in Mississippi is set for its annual renewal Saturday morning. The 17th-annual Summer Sunfish Triathlon is slated to get under way at 7 a.m. at Lake Okatibbee.
As of Tuesday, 206 athletes had preregistered for the event. Race director and frequent participant DeShon Davis said he expects from 250-270 by Saturday morning. Around 260 athletes completed the course last year.
Defending male champion Donny Forsyth of Memphis, Tenn., has registered for this year's event. Melanie Holloway of Roswell, Ga., the 2002 female winner, had not registered as of Thursday.
Forsyth defeated five-time champion Victor Perini (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) of Cordova, Tenn., by 72 seconds last year.
Holloway is a two-time champion, also winning in 2000.
The Summer Sunfish course has a half-mile swim, a 21.7 mile run, and a five-mile run.
It gets no easier as the athletes reach the dam for their final steps.
This year's course will be similar to last year's. Road construction caused the 2002 course to differ from previous years. Some of the construction in the Collinsville area is still under way.
It's the same bike course as last year," Davis said. "We got it cleared from the supervisors to use a bridge that they deemed unsafe for automobile traffic, but they weigh a lot more than the bikes."
Registration continues through tonight.
Perini has won the most male championships. Lori Lazzari King holds that same honor for the females with five championships (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1997).
Pam Bowen Cox (1987, 1990) and Joseph Curro III (1995, 2001) have both won the event twice.