Stroke and Stride series returns home

After a year away from its usual location, the Cayman Islands Triathlon Association’s Ogier Stroke and Stride series returned to the familiar environment of Sunset House this year.

“It was awesome [being back]. Last year, Sunset House were doing some construction work…and we had to move to Eden Rock and Bar Crudo. It feels great to be back to what is basically the home of Stroke and Stride,” said Cayman Islands Triathlon Association president Trevor Murphy.

More than 100 participants, either as solo competitors or part of a two-athlete team took part in the opener of the three-race series on 1 August.  “Last year, all the events across the island were down about 10-15 percent and we were the same. This year, it seems to be higher than last year…which is great,” Murphy told CaymanSportsBuzz.com.

Patrick Harfield was the first solo racer to complete the 400m swim and two-mile run in 18 minutes 8.5 seconds. He crossed the finish just behind Victor Magalhaes of the 345 team (17:39.8) that started with Marius Acker dominating in the water.

Magalhaes, a CARIFTA Games athletes this year, was fastest on foot with his run in 12 minutes and 1 second and Acker the quickest out of the water in 5:38.2. Harfield was just off that team’s pace in both phases with 6:00.2 in the water and 12:08.3 on the road.

Victor Magalhaes and Marius Acker paired up to be the quickest team.

Jason Trautman, Sean Lilley, Esmond Brown and 13-year-old Jake Stellatella rounded out the top five male finishers.

Allyssa Dodson, who represented the Cayman Islands at last year’s Island Games in the triathlon, was the first solo female finisher. She finished in 23 minutes and 2.8 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Tracy Payne (24:06.7). Kelsey Jackson, Elaine Anderson, and Donna Graham were third, fourth and fifth among the females, respectively.

In the zone was the fastest all-female team and The Performance Lab the top mixed team.

The Young and the Young at Heart!

See full results here.

The series continues with Race 2 on 8 August featuring a 600m swim and 2-mile run, with the finale a week later with an 800m swim and 2-mile run. Registration is still available online at CaymanActive. Those with the best combined results across all three races will be crowned series champions.

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