Athletes compete in Hogansburg Duathlon

By Shannon Burns

More than 30 athletes ranging from children to seniors competed in the Hogansburg Duathlon Friday evening and stopped traffic as they ran, walked or biked through the Hogansburg intersection. Some participants were competitive and raced, others competed just against their own expectations and others did it just to try.

Participants could register individually or as teams to complete the three segments of the duathlon: first a mile and a half run from Generations Park, east on 37, then north onto St. Regis Road before turning around and returning to the park to hop on a bike or tag their partner for the next segment. An 8-mile bike ride was the second leg of the race and cyclists peddled east on 37, then south onto 37C for the majority of their ride before returning to the park. The last segment of the duathlon was a second 1 ½ mile run along the same route as the first segment.

Although some of the athletes were in no hurry and were no in competition, it was a close race at the finish line. First individual athlete Dan Contant completed the race at 39 minutes and 23 seconds. At 39 minutes and 40 seconds, the Chad G./Ryan Cole team crossed the line to get first place in the mixed team category. Three seconds later Rob Allen came in to get 2nd place in the individual men category. The first individual woman to cross the line was Amy Hollister at 48:38.

The duathlon was open to all ages with the youngest competitor being 14.

A special children’s race was held for any young people in the community who wanted to participate but who were too young for the challenging duathlon. The Fun Run, for anyone 12 and under consisted of five laps around the Generations Park soccer field, which amounted to approximately 1 mile. Six-year-old Eli Jose Araujo, or EJ, was eager to take the challenge even though he was the sole competitor. His family stood nearby to watch and EJ sprinted off at full speed. By the end of the first lap he said he didn’t want to do it anymore because he had a cramp and was tired. Organizer Joshua Jock pointed out the boy’s father standing at the other end waiting to cheer him on and so EJ trotted off onto Lap 2. As he was completing the second lap, tired again, EJ’s father joined him and kept ahead of the boy, motivating EJ to keep up and complete the next three laps without wanting to give up again. EJ finished his race at 10 minutes 35 seconds.

HOGANSBURG DUATHLON ‘10 Results

OPEN MEN DIVISION

Dan Contant 39:23

Rob Allen 39:43

Kent “Teaente” Fetter 42:22

Stephane Contant 43:09

Norman Seguin 44:04

Larry Rowe 46:48

Greg Yateman 50:33

Derek Hart 52:03

Derek Trupell 56:54

Don Hilts 57:50

Beynan Ransom 1:01:51

Fabian Hart 1:04:41

OPEN WOMEN DIVISION

Amy Hollister 48:38

Hannan Seguin 50:32

Jeni Backus 53:05

Pamela Rowe 53:55

MIXED TEAM DIVISION

Chad G./ Ryan Cole 39:40

Nathan C./ Raymond M. 40:09

Brian N./ Kara B. 42:46

Madison S./ Kaitlyn L. 51:02

Alicia S./ Katrina D. 53:17

Lindsay T./ Norma S. 58:30

Patrick B./ Darlene D./ Jill B. 1:00:56

Karen W./ Jess J. 1:06:15

12 & UNDER FUN RUN

Eli Jose Araujo 10:35