By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE – Triathlons are nothing new to Shawn Berry, but ones held in Aroostook County are.
Contributed photo/Jim Berry
Shawn Berry holds up a medal presented by a smiling Grace Bemis following Berry’s completion of Saturday’s Tri Aroostook triathlon, held in Presque Isle. Berry’s time of 58 minutes and 4.4 seconds topped the field, which included 62 individuals and 12 relay teams. The sprint event consisted of a 525-yard swim, a 10.25-mile bike and a 3.1-mile run.
Berry, who grew up in Presque Isle and now resides in Caribou, was the overall champion in the inaugural Tri Aroostook. He was the fastest competitor out of 32 males, 30 females and even the 12 relay teams who participated in the fundraiser for Pink Aroostook, a breast cancer awareness program.
Berry estimates that he has now participated in approximately 20 triathlons since picking up the sport in 2006. He was glad to finally have one held in his “backyard.”
“It was odd not having to book a hotel and travel for one … it was a good feeling,” Berry said. “I thought the organizers did a great job. I’ve been to other first-time triathlons and this was by far the best one.”
Berry’s time of 58 minutes and 4.4 seconds was 4:46.3 faster than runner-up Philip Boody of New Sweden, who came in at 1:02:50.7. Matt Cote of Mapleton took third in 1:03:18.6, with George Ferland of Stockholm fourth in 1:05:24.7 and Sarah Gahagan of Mapleton, the women’s champion, fifth in 1:07:59.8.
The local sprint triathlon began with a 525-yard swim in the Gentile Hall pool at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, followed by competitors hopping on their bicycles for a 10.25-trek south on U.S. Route 1 to the Spragueville Road and back onto campus via Chapman Road. From there it was onto the final stage – a 3.1-mile run through fields and trails adjacent to UMPI.
The course presented a real test, according to Berry.
“Since I’m a runner by nature and not as strong in the swim, I get stronger as the event moves along,” he said. “I thought the bike portion was fairly challenging with a lot of rolling hills and a couple of really good climbs, and the run was exceptionally challenging.
“I’m used to courses on the road or a track, but this was completely on grass and due to the rain the night before I had to work very hard to keep the pace,” Berry added.
Following Gahagan to make up the women’s top five were Susan Plissey of Stockholm in 1:10:36.8, Stephanie Caverhill of Caribou in 1:13:58.2, Kate Parsons of Presque Isle in 1:17:30.2 and Sarah Toner-Morrison of Grand Falls, New Brunswick in 1:20:41.3.
Winning the relay competition were the Pokeys of Presque Isle, made up of Hal, Meredith and Trey Stewart. Their time was 1:10:05.23. A team from Madrid Township was second in 1:14:20.43, followed by another Presque Isle trio made up of Keegan Ennis, Gannon Therrien and Craig Schiff, who finished in 1:15:10.51.
Event director Jonathan Kelley was thrilled with how the initial event went off.
“I thought there would be some problems with the weather or maybe some glitches on the course, but things actually went really well,” Kelley said. “From all the volunteers doing their job to the athletes enjoying the experience, I was absolutely overjoyed.
“My goals were to increase an awareness with triathlons in this area and also to create a healthy lifestyle in individuals, and both were captured this weekend,” he added.
More than $4,000 was raised in the benefit.
