By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Testing their endurance through swimming, cycling, and running, over forty athletes took part in the twenty-third annual Bucyrus YMCA Triathlon.
The day began at 9 a.m. with the athletes taking to the YMCA’s pool, and swimming 500 yards. Once finished swimming, racers made a dash to the bicycles for the 12 mile bike race portion of the event. The triathlon finished with a five kilometer run.
Finishing in first place in the women’s division for the second straight year was Sheri Zimmerer Branum with a time of 1:03.45. Branum felt she had a good race.
“I thought it was a pretty good race for the first outing of the season. I had a good run and still working on my swim,” Branum said.
Branum finished one-hundredth of a second from her 2015 triathlon time of 1:03.44.
Finishing in first place for Crawford County men was Kent Stuckey with a time of 1:09.28. Stucky reflected on his race.
I was pretty relaxed, I just kind of wanted to have fun today, and went and put out a good bike split, and just kind of rode it out,” Stuckey said.
Taking first for Crawford County women with a time of 1:13.82 was Erin Fishpaw. Fishpaw noted that the race was her best finish time since last season.
“Swimming was my best,” Fishpaw said. “It was a good time for me; this is probably my best time I have had since last year.”
The top co-ed team was Team Scott comprised of Josh, Jessica, and Sara Scott with a time of 1:16.26 Josh explained what he felt was their strongest leg of the race.
“I think our doing the swim helped us tremendously,” Josh said.
Competing in her first triathlon at the Y Director of the Humane Society Serving Crawford County Victoria Carmean explained why she competed in the race.
“I did this for all the animals at the shelters that don’t get a chance, for all the ones that don’t have homes, for all the ones that don’t have love,” Carmean said.
Related Content: 2016 Bucyrus YMCA Triathlon
Race Results
Overall male
James Zeuch 57.56
Overall Female
Sheri Zimmerer Branum 1:03.45
Overall Women’s Team
3 B’s Giving it a Try 1:20.41
Overall Coed Team
Team Scott 1:16.26
Overall Crawford County Male
Kent Stuckey 1:09.28
Overall Crawford County Female
Erin Fishpaw 1:13.82