By Ted Waddell
HIGHLAND — May 23, 2006 – Despite a bone-chilling wind blowing in across Highland Lake, Saturday’s 14th Annual Highland Triathlon attracted a field of 35 hard core athletes.
Doug Stern, who founded the event more than a decade ago, served as the Race Director. This year’s race was sponsored by Island/DefJam Recordings Music Group.
It consisted of a 1/2 mile swim, a 15-mile long bike section and a 4-mile run to the finish line.
“Last year I got caught on the corner and the guy ran past me, he was a better runner than me,” recalled first- place finisher Doug Clark of Morristown, NJ.
The 37-year-old Clark originally hails from Manchester, England. Of the six times he’s competed in the Highland Triathlon, has won five times.
“The conditions were a little bit tougher today, and I’m recovering from an injury,” Clark said.
His take on the three-part race?
“I love it,” replied Clark. “It’s low-key, low-pressure, a really pretty race and very well organized. That’s why I keep coming back here.”
He started seriously competing in triathlons in 1997, and won the 14th Annual Highland Triathlon with a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 43 seconds.
“I came from England with a cycling background, and could always swim a bit,” said Clark, adding that the cycling scene in the United States differs from what he was used to back in his hometown across the Atlantic Ocean.
“I’m more of a time trialist, a slower kind of guy, not a sprinter,” he said. “This is a very hilly course, always a challenge. If you’re a strong biker, this is the one for you… there are no flats in this race.”
Barbara Buenahora, 29, was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 1:27:38.
She started competing in triathlons in 1992 and has more than 20 Ironman events around the world to her credit.
Next week, Buenahora, who now lives in Glen Spey but is originally from Argentina, will be riding her racing bike at the Pan American Games in Brazil.
“You have to pay attention all the time, it’s not boring,” she said of the 15-mile long cycling leg of the Highland Triathlon.
The complete results of the event are as follows:
1. Doug Clark, Morristown, NJ, 1:15:43
2. Alex Sherwood, New Paltz, 1:15:48
3. Michael Halstead, Stone Ridge, 1:21:10
4. Murray Resinski, Morris Plains, NJ, 1:25:11
5. Phil Ferrara, Middlesex, NJ, 1:26:30
6. Bruce Cadenhead, Dobbs Ferry, 1:26:52
7. Barbara Buenahora, Glen Spey, 1:27:38
8. John Beech, West New York, NJ, 1:29:30
9. Matthew Descovich, Plainview, 1:30:52
10. Barbara Sessa, Slate Hill, 1:31:30
11. David Smith, New York City, 1:32:20
12. Bill Norton, Wurtsboro, 1:33:09
13. William Jack Phillips, New York City, 1:33:26
14. Jennifer Hughes, Milford, Pa., 1:36:37
15. Erica Adelberg, New York City, 1:38:51
16. John Olesky, Warren, NJ, 1:44:14
17. Lesley Morgado, New York City, 1:45:58
18. David Dietz, New York City, 1:47:21
19. Robert Rembish, Brooklyn, 1:47:40
20. Don Hubman, New York City, 1:48:10
21. Cheryl Marcinko, Morris Plains, NJ, 1:49:39
22. Susan Olesky, Warren, NJ, 1:51:10
23. Julia Chasin, New York City, 1:52:50
24. John Ferrara, Barryville, 1:55:31
25. Leonard Silverstein, Albany, 1:56:36
26. David Schwab, Youngsville, 1:57:59
27. Joshua Hecht, New York City, 1:59:34
28. Erin Larkin, New Hampton, 1:59:41
29. Elizabeth Angell, Brooklyn, 2:00:54
30. Lynn Chapman-Stern, New York City, 2:01:00
31. Peter Lazier, Middletown, 2:01:12
32. Wladimir Ribeiro, Paramus, NJ, 2:12:45
33. Michael Howard, Brooklyn, 2:15:15
34. Ben Lieberman, Chappaqua, 2:22:48
35. Joan Martinez, New York City, 2:33:12.