Saturday, July 5, 2003 -- Parkersburg, WV
6th Annual Adventure Pursuit Triathlon (iPO Event Id#: 5229) Photos by Don Parks

[Details] [Coverage]
[Overall Results]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6] [Set 7] [Set 8]
Past Coverage: [1999] [2000] [2002]

A picture perfect day on the lake

The 2003 Adventure Pursuit Triathlon saw record turnouts for a beautiful and hot July day. With the addition of 4 new competitions to the event it was a non-stop day of races.

Things started out hot and heavy at 8 am as the Rehab Center Extreme Torture Challenge runners took off. The event saw over a 30% increase in entries for the race this year and almost every individual entry was from out of state. One participant said the cash prize of $250 supplied by St. Joseph's Hospital is what brought her here. This is truly an extreme race.

Since the event has been moved to Mountwood Park, 30% of the individuals who start this race don't finish it. "We know it is an extreme race." Said race organizer Kim Broughton. "Folks have asked us to make it easier but we want to offer an event that makes folks strut when they walk away having finished it. This is that event!" Justin Pokrivka, Rose Petrick, and Team Vienna Bike Shop walked away with the grand prize in their respective categories.

It all starts with the run

At 10 am, 4 races kicked off including the Mountain State Blue Cross/Blue Shield Triathlon, Fine Lines Mud Sweat and Chafed Buns Triathlon, Simonton Windows' Family Walk/Run, and the RVMBA trials course.

Brent Jenkins won the running version of the Simonton Windows and won the raffle prize of a Diamondback crossbike. A good day for Brent!

Lowell Warden took top place in the Mountain State Blue Cross and Blue Shield Triathlon. "Lowell has been here before, many times. We love folks who come back year after year. They are very special to us!" said Kim.

Taking on Mountwood's singletrack

Jacob Malcomb walked away with first place with a time of 1:45 in the day's most popular event, the Fine Lines Mud, Sweat, and Chafed Buns Triathlon. Jacob lost last year by 1 second to Brian King, who placed 3rd overall in this event for the day. Tonya Johns, last year's 3rd place winner in the women's category, took first for the day.

At 1 pm, the best race of the day, as proclaimed by many, kicked off: The Raze Race Children's Triathlon. There were smiles everywhere you looked. You couldn't help but smile seeing these children going at it! As you looked out over the lake you saw all these different color of boats, going in all different directions and folks cheering from everywhere.

The sponsors, the Wirt/Wood County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, provided plaques for the winners and because of the category breakdown, every child took home a trophy. It was a great event and will definitely be repeated next year!

The kids get in the action

At 2 pm, the last race of the day, the Skier's Edge Ten Minute Triathlon started with 4 athletes who had already completed previous events for the day. The prize table supplied by Skier's Edge motivated these already weary racers to give it a shot. It was truly a 10-minute race. Tom Samples walked away with first place and first pick at the prize table.

The events for the day concluded when Douglas Libert completed the Rehab Extreme race after 7 hours and 34 minutes. What a way to finish.

Just a note that race organizers opened the event up this year and expanded it into a fitness festival. Booths from local groups such as mountain biking and the local wheelchair basketball team were set up so that individual could try different activities. It also gave spectators something to do while waiting for racers to finish. The busiest booth for the day was by far the climbing wall. Race promoters want to thank everyone for their support and help and look forward to next year!