Tri-umph: 115 Scotch Plains, Fanwood, and Westfield Women Compete in Triathlon

One-hundred-fifteen women from the Scotch Plains-Fanwood-Westfield Tri-Women's group, based out of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA and the JCC of Central New Jersey, were among the 863 finishers at the Jersey Girl Triathlon held in Long Branch on Sunday. The Tri-Women, ranging in age from 17 to 58, completed a 300-yard ocean swim, a 10.5-mile bicycle ride and 3-mile run.

The first competitors hit the water at 7 a.m., just after sunrise. They followed a course that took them from the beach to a bike route that looped past the Elberon train station, and finished with a run along the boardwalk. The group's top finisher, Ilene Goodman, 21, of Westfield captured 12th place overall and 1st prize in her age group with a time of 1:05:10. The complete list of finishers and results can be found here.

"I always get inspired watching the tri-women approach the finish line," Amy Carow, the Tri-Women group's founder, said in an email. Sunday's participants "took on the challenge of the rough surf," and most "were able to smile at the finish – that's the important thing."

Carow noted that the group's strong showing demonstrated not only the hard work of the athletes, but the commitment of the group's leaders. They volunteered to coordinate and support the race events, and led training sessions to prepare the participants for race-day. 

Two weeks earlier, on a blistering hot Sunday, several members of the Tri-Women's group, including eight Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents, successfully completed the New Jersey State Olympic-Distance Triathlon held at Mercer County Park in West Windsor.  The co-ed event attracted nearly 1,000 athletes. The event was comprised of a one-mile swim, 25.5-mile bicycle ride and 6.4 mile (10-kilometer) run.

Fanwood resident Bridget Sherratt, 40, posted the top female swim time at that race, completing the mile in 22:03. She placed third in the 40-44 age group, and finished 137th overall with a total time of 2:39:16. Scotch Plains resident Thea Skanes, 46, finished third in the 45-49 age group, and 171st overall with a time of 2:42:54. Scotch Plains residents Dawn Harrison, 55, and Maxine Neuhauser, 56, (mother of this reporter), and Westfield residents Maggie Subhas, 58, and Susan Goodman, 55, also finished.

Susan's daughter, Ilene, 20, also of Westfield, finished fourth in the 20-24 age group, and 270th overall.

Local male finishers in the Olympic Triathlon included Eric Priel, 38 (169th overall), Brian Raska (725th overall), Joseph Abdy (750th overall)  and Brett Carter, 41 (796th overall).

On July 24, the day before the Olympic-Distance Triatholon, 11 Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents joined 1,200 other participants in successfully completing the New Jersey State Sprint Triathlon: a half-mile mile swim, 11-mile bike ride and five-kilometer run.  Michael Pesin, 18, posted the top finish among local residents, placing 61st overall with a time of 1:10:28. His mother, Janice Baker (and a member of the Tri-Women's group) placed first in the 40-45 group with a time of 1:16:15.

The Tri-Women will next compete at the Danskin Sprint Triathlon in Sandy Hook on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010.