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Hundreds of athletes, volunteers and spectators plus a near-perfect October day were a great combination for the Amelia Man Olympic distance and Atlantic Coast half-Iron distance triathlons, marking their third year in Fernandina Beach.
AIR members did well in both events, with Ken Marker finishing ninth overall in the Amelia Man, in 2:10:58, good for second in his 30-34 age group. Not far behind was Bruce Dunham, second in the 45-49 age group, in 2:22:51. Finishing third in her 40-44 age group was Deobrah Dunham, in 2:45:54. In the Atlantic Coast half-Iron event, Sean McGill finished in 5:22:23, in a tune-up for a full Ironman next week.
Ken Marker finishes in the Amelia Man top 10.
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Deborah Dunham finishes the Amelia Man in 2:45:54.
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Bruce Dunham races to a 2:22:51 Amelia Man finish. |
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"The conditions were just about perfect, better than last year," Ken said after his swim/bike/run. "It felt awesome, and I didn't feel overheated. Any cooler and it might have been almost too cool at the end of the swim and start of the bike."
After the Atlantic Coast, Sean was sporting a "Team Bruce" T-shirt in honor of his trainer, local triathlon legend Bruce Buchanan.
AIR members were also among the 300-plus volunteers who helped make the events go smoothly. The volunteer coordinator is another AIR member, Stephanie Nichols.
Sean McGill -- who's doing a full Ironman next week!- finishes the Atlantic Coast Tri in 5:22:23.
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AIR member Regina Brennan helped at the medical tent.
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AIR member Steve Coe directed cyclists to the transition area. |
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The Amelia Man is a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run, while the Atlantic Coast is a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. Organizers praised the athletes, the volunteers and support crews, and the weather, saying the last Atlantic Coast finisher was 90 minutes ahead of the last cutoff-point time. Full results for both events are posted at DRC Sports. Overall winners of the Atlantic Coast were Ian Blake of Charleston, SC, in 4:20:24, and Karen Paxton of North Palm Beach in 4:56:02. Other Fernandina Beach-area finishers in the Amelia Man were Gregory Kuisel, 45-49 age group, of Fernandina Beach in 3:03:29, and Joshua Sherrill, 30-34 age group, of Fernandina Beach in 2:53:29. |
Fernandina Beach resident Randall Bell finishes the AC in 4:39:36.
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A post-race Dunham family portrait.
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Sean and Tifini McGill share a post-race hug. |
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