SPRINGFIELD – Michael Braun and Sarah Mellor lead a Grim Reaper Fitness contingent at the Lake Springfield Triathlon Saturday, each garnering a 3rd-place overall finish.
Braun finished 3rd overall in the Olympic-distance race, which also served as the Illinois State Championships, just 30 seconds behind the 2nd-place finisher. Braun’s overall time was 2:13:43; his best even was the bike, completing the 24.8 miles in 1:00:40 for a 24.53 mph average.
Mellor, competing in the half-distance race, finished in 5:34:36 and was the 3rd-overall female finisher. Her best event was also the bike, covering the 56-mile course in 2:57:47 for an 18.9 mph average.
Also, in the half, Scott Karstens, Tim Auth, and Matt Lawson teamed up to win the relay in 5:53:25, while Lauri Meins completed the course in 6:50:25.
Other Reapers in the Olympic race were Christine Kachelmuss, who was 2nd in 30-34 at 2:51:03; Erin Weizeorick, who finished 4th in 25-29 in 3:18:21; and Laura Becher, who took 2nd in 40-44 at 3:22:08.
In the sprint race, Ami Hileman (1:35:10) and Nancy Braun (1:%0:28) finished 2nd and 3rd in the 55-59 division, while Dan Wolfe raced to a 1:32:22 finish.
This marked the first year of new ownership for the event with St. Louis-based MSE Racing stepping in for TriHarder Promotions. The races – formerly known as the Stoneman Sprint, Abe’s Oly, and Route 66 Half – are now collectively known as the Lake Springfield Triathlon.
