PETERSBURG, IL – TriBird Will Cornish was the overall winner, Christine Kachelmuss was the 2nd overall female, and four others won their division as Grim Reaper Fitness kicked off the triathlon season at the Pioneer Sprint here Saturday.
Cornish, a member of the Illinois State University club triathlon team the TriBirds, completed the 300-yard swim, 13-mile bike and 3.1-mile run in a blistering 58:44 on a cool, windy day. His swim time of 3:17 was the field’s best by over one minute, while his 19:45 run leg was also the day’s best. Nate Fillers, another TriBird was 3rd overall at 1:01:46, highlighted by a 22.7 mph bike leg, the day’s third best. Another TriBird, Nathan Stukenberg, won the 20-24 age group in 1:13:28.
Kachlemuss finished in 1:15:36, posting the second-best women’s swim time at 5:01 and the third-best bike leg at 19.1 mph.
Other winners included: Kevin Tuuk, who took 45-49 and 5th overall at 1:04:20, highlighted by the day’s second-best run at 19:53; Racheal Chiolero, 1:26:04 to take 40-44; and Riley Cate, 1:48:11 in 15-19.
Other medalists included: Tim Auth, 2nd in Clydesdale at 1:17:09; TriBird Holly Tompkins, 2nd in 20-24 at 1:23:58; and Ami Hileman, 3rd in 55-59 at 1:29:06.
