Forsyth wins Sunfish, again
By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
July 11, 2004
Sometimes, even a champion can be amazed.
Donny Forsyth's third-straight win in the 18th-annual Sunfish Summer Triathlon at Lake Okatibbee Saturday morning caught the 38-year old Memphis resident by surprise.
His time of 1:31:26 was nearly two-and-a-half minutes faster than runner-up Brett Reagan, 33, of New Orleans.
Forsyth came out the swim with a time of 9:56, but his 24.5 miles per hour clip on the 21.35-mile bike ride was the day's best. He then averaged six minutes per mile over the five-mile run to pull away from Reagan.
Reagan was 18 seconds faster in the swim, but his 24.1 bike average allowed Forsyth to build a 23-second lead going into the run.
The split training times has worked out well.
Forsyth will look to match Memphis' Vic Perini's record of four straight wins (1996-99) next year.
Andrew Kenworthy, 39, of New Orleans was third, followed by Miles Fortas, 33, of Memphis, and Lance Steed of Mobile, Ala.
Lesley Brainard, 33, of Collierville, Tenn., was the female champion with a time of 1:45:35, good for 29th place overall. She was 24 seconds faster than runner-up Jennifer Forsyth, Donny's wife, who won the 1999 Sunfish as Jennifer LaMotte.
A strong showing in the water powered Brainard's race. Her time of 8:55 was the best of the field, regardless of sex, and with good reason.
Seven states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma) were represented with 232 individuals completing the course along with four three-person teams.
The top local finisher was Randy Barrett, 33, of Decatur. His time of 1:47:37 was good for 41st place overall.
Lori Goldweber, 40, of Birmingham won the female masters division and placed 48th overall and fifth among the females with a time of 1:48:27. This is her 20th year of triathlons. She won here in 1988, 1989, 1992, and 1997 and was the champion at last year's Heart o' Dixie Triathlon.
The youngest finisher was 13-year-old Cameron Ruddle of Cordova, Tenn., while 71-year-old Joe McReynolds of Mobile, Ala., was the oldest.
Sixty-three year-old Bettina Hambrick of Mukogee, Okla., won the 60-99 female group. Her time of 2:24:51 beat 27 other finishers.
In the Clydesdale division for men 185 pounds or larger, first place went to Roland Shapley of Memphis. The Athena division champion for women 150 pounds or more was Shannon Cook of Memphis.
In the team competition, the VT-9 Tigers took first place with a time of 1:50:49. Making up the team were Brent Leffler (swimmer), Adam Bush (cyclist), and Michael Holmes (runner). Second place went to Two Guys and a Girl made up of Staci Stanley, Bobby Renfrow, and Jerry Parker.
In the regional club championships, Meridian took first place for club's with 60 or more members. Los Locos of Tennessee took first place for clubs with from 20-39 members. Memphis Thunder won for teams with 19 members or less.
Team Gecko of New Orleans won for teams from out of the district.
