By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
July 13, 2003
Donny Forsyth successfully defended his 2002 Sunfish Summer Triathlon championship Saturday morning, increasing his margin of victory in the process.
In last year's race, Forsyth defeated Victor Perini by 72 seconds. In Saturday's 17th-annual race in the Lake Okatibbee area, the 36-year-old Memphis native beat second place finisher David Mills by 94 seconds.
Forsyth's time was 1:32:13.
The sky stayed overcast for the entire race and temperatures were much lower than normal.
Forsyth completed the swim in 10 minutes, 12 seconds, averaged 24.3 miles per hour on the 21.7 mile bike stage, and averaged a six minute, two second mile for the five-mile run.
Forsyth's bike average was the best in Saturday's race, while his run time was third-best. He overcame an eighth-best swim time.
Athletes enter the water in staggered starts. The time they are behind the first athlete to hit the water is subtracted from the time on the clock when they cross the finish line to get the actual time it took each person to complete the race.
Forsyth is part of the Los Locos triathlon team out of Memphis that again captured team honors based on number of participants and their finishes.
A total of 218 individuals from seven states (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and Colorado) competed this year's race, along with several relay entrants.
Mills, 41, from Auburn, Ala., had a time of 1:33:47 to place second. He had a 10:20 swim time, averaged 23.9 miles on the bike, and 6:07 per mile on the run.
Third place overall went to Miles Fortas, 32, of Memphis with a time of 1:34:14. Brett Reagan, 32, of New Orleans had a time of 1:35:20 to take fourth.
In fifth place was Imran Mahmood, 19, of Memphis with a time of 1:35:44. His 8:49 swim time was the best in the field. Twin brother, Rehan, had the second-best swim time at 8:56.
Margaret Finley, 29, of Germantown, Tenn., was the female champion. She completed the course with a time of 1:42:28 to place 23rd overall. This was her fourth year to compete in the Sunfish.
After finishing second in 2002, Finley's move up the ladder to first place was the result of increased training time.
A seven-year participant in the grueling sport, Finley completed an Ironman event in Idaho two weeks ago.
Second place among the females was Erika Pollock, 27, of Spanish Fort, Ala., with a time of 1:43:15.
Lori Goldweber, 39, of Birmingham, Ala., was third among the females with a time of 1:46:03.
MaryCay Jermann, 36, of Memphis was fourth with a time of 1:48:16.
Fifth place went to Joy Johnson, 26, of Memphis with a time of 1:48:36.
The top area finisher was Shayne Martin, 30, of Philadelphia. His time of 1:44:35 was good for 28th overall.
Maurice Malone, 52, was the top Lauderdale Countian. His time of 1:49:14 was good for 56th place overall.