Lakeside Of The Smokies Triathlon

Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

It takes a lot of training and dedication to swim 1.5k in open water, bicycle 40k and run 10k but it takes will power of tremendous proportions to do so with temperatures hovering in the 90s and humidity so thick that simply walking up hill is challenging. 118 competitors met the challenge on Saturday, as the Lakeside of the Smokies Triathlon came to Dandridge. The event was an Olympic distance triathlon and the first, of what some hope to become an annual event in Jefferson County.

The field was deep with competitors from across Tennessee and beyond, with a surprising amount of local representation. In addition to individual competitors, there was a relay option for participants. Locals shopping in the Historic Town Square got a first hand look at competitors Saturday, as a portion of their 10k run took them through the center of downtown Dandridge. Officers from the Dandridge Police Department were on hand to manage the congestion and keep runners safe.

Although participants are categorized by age, the big overall winners for the day were Bill Beecher, age 39, who completed the course in 2 hours, seven minutes and 38 seconds. In second place was Jim Hall, age 38 and John Smith, age 37, took third. They were followed by 53 year old Robert Pair. Ashley Powell, age 24, who completed the course in two hours, twenty nine minutes and twenty seconds, and Laura Clark, age 23, were followed by Joanne Langston, age 44, in the women’s division.

Majestic Bay neighborhood was the home base of Saturday’s event.

Staff Photo by Jeff Depew