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Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon raises funds for local groups

The 44-and-under female group hits the Atlantic to start the triathlon. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
September 19, 2022

The Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon was held Sept. 17 off Tower Road, where nearly 500 competitors took to the sand, surf and streets.

It’s the 24th year the event has been held. The inaugural event was held in 1996, and the contest has only been canceled twice – once for COVID and once for Hurricane Florence. It’s a no-frills, grassroots community event and a Dewey Beach tradition that brings athletes and their families from near and far to the resort area for a great day of competition and fun in a beautiful environment.

“I created this event 26 years ago because there were no other triathlons being held in the area,” said race organizer Ava Cannon. “For two years, we held it on New Orleans Street in Dewey, and ever since, they’ve been at the state park. Almost everything has happened through the years. We’ve had the swim canceled for rough conditions – once when the swim had already started – and even once for fog. Twice the event was not held due to COVID and Hurricane Flo. But this year, the conditions on race day were magnificent. Our beneficiaries are Pathways to Success and Cape Henlopen JROTC, both instrumental student pillars of the community.”

 

Race Director Ava Cannon goes over race rules.
Sarah Freih sings the national anthem before the event.
The North Shores Beach Patrol helped keep the racers safe. Shown are (l-r) Gabe Poad, Aaron Tartal, Liz Klingensmith, Capt. Kent Buckson, Noah Houser, Chuck Moran, Padraig Hahn, Shane Gilbert, Jason Boc, Hunter Reifsnyder and Augie Carlozzi. Not shown are Rob Witsil and Bob Bednarcick.
Racers waiting their turn are (l-r) Alison Andrew, Sara Carter and Ellie Keck.
Race Director Ava Cannon gets the waves in order at the starting point.
The 19-and-under and 60-plus men’s groups take off at the start of the swim leg.
Waiting for the triathlon to start are (l-r) Sanne Elling, Ellie Keck, Emma Jo Szczerba, Joe Szczerba and Lauren Diehl.
Bradley Allmond of Newark leaves the surf to run to the transition area. He placed 19th overall.
Brian Davis of Chevy Chase, Md., leaves the surf. He placed second overall.
Zachary Temple of Camden leaves the surf. He placed 34th overall.
Alison Andrew takes off from the transition area. She participated in the duathlon, which included a half-mile beach run, 15.5-mile bike ride and a 3.3-mile run. She finished with a time of 2:27:48. Andrew is battling Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma and returns to chemo Sept. 19.
John Yokley of Potomac, Md., is pumped at the transition area. He placed fifth in the 60-69 age group.
Racers exit the beach to the transition area.
Geoff White hurries into his biking shoes. He placed ninth in the male 50-54 age group.
Vincent Browning makes last-minute adjustments in the transition area. He finished fourth in the 55-59 age group.
Liz Wist of Berlin, Md. takes off for the bike leg. She placed fourth in the female 30-34 age group.
McKayla Meyers takes off from the transition area. She placed second in the female 20-24 age group.
Participants leave the bike-mounting area.
Christopher Brown from Baltimore runs the Dewey Beach course. He placed sixth overall and first in the male 35-39 age group.
Margaret Colvin of Rehoboth Beach placed first in the masters female group.
Robyn Steele of Phoenix, Md., leaves the beach and heads into the transition area. She placed 16th in the duathlon.
Dom Scott waves the swimmers to the transition area.
Maxwell Siegrist of Chicago finished third overall.
Michael Fowler of Berlin, Md., finished with a fourth in the male 35-39 age group.
Tara Zimnick-Calico of Washington, D.C., finished first in the female 45-49 age group.
Fans cheer on Mike Guerra.

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