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Ride & Run With The Stars plans are set
By JESSICA FISH The Pinellas County Sheriff's Christmas Sharing Project will benefit from the proceeds at the 10th anniversary Ride & Run With The Stars, Dec. 7 at Fort DeSoto Park. On the day of the family event, registration begins at 7 a.m. Included is a 25-mile ride, 10-mile family ride, 3 miles of inline skating and 5-kilometer fun run/walk. The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office is planning bicycle and kayak giveaways, food, entertainment, a kids bike rodeo, 25-foot climbing wall, collectors' long-sleeve T-shirts, and a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elf at 10 a.m. For information, call Scott Stiner, (727) 582-5602. FLORIDA POINTS WINNER: Largo bicycle racer Brett Thompson (Team American Classic) won the series and will be upgraded from a Category 4 rider to Category 3. Thompson, 35, a computer programmer from Pinellas Park, has been coached by former professional rider Tony Prioli of Clearwater. "Brett won the points series by being the most consistent rider in the state," Prioli said. "Like Lance Armstrong, he did not win every race, but he was placing very consistently throughout the season. "If I had him doing intervals in the morning session, Brett would do them at 4 a.m., so he could be at his desk in a shirt and tie by 8 a.m.," Prioli said. "He's very dedicated, and he has a great future ahead of him." For more results, go online to www.floridaracing.net. AARP TRI-UMPH: Patricia Hoffman says she was happy to win gold in last month's Senior Games in The Villages, but her primary goal for the end of the triathlon season was to defend her top overall title in the Tri-Umph Classic in St. Petersburg. Hoffman, 52, a registered nurse from Palm Harbor, won the sprint distance event in 1 hour, 17 minutes -- 4 minutes faster than her 2001 victory. "Winning is great, but just going out and doing your best is what counts," Hoffman said. "All these first-timers are doing their best, and if you go home and know that you did your best, you are a winner too," she said. For AARP Tri-Umph Classic Triathlon results, go online to www.aarp.org. LOCAL AWARDS: The AARP national office in Washington, along with race director Bill Burke, gave Appreciation Awards to coaches Lewis Bennett, Bo Webster and Roger Burke, as well as to organizer Steve Meckfessel. ST. ANTHONY'S REGISTRATION: Meckfessel and Krista Soroka announced that online registration for the triathlon will begin Sunday. Even though the event (1-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run) is not until April 27, Soroka expects the field of 1,600 to fill within a few weeks. For information, go online to www.satriathlon.com or call (727) 825-1271. FLORIDA 2003 QUALIFIERS: After the Janus Ironman Florida Triathlon in Panama City Beach on Nov. 9, area racers Lara Shaw, 30, Tampa; Mary Beth Shaw, 31, St. Petersburg; and Karen Alexeev, 50, Gulfport, were among those awarded slots for the 25th anniversary Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Hawaii next October. Shaw, a professional, turned in a time of 9 hours, 48 minutes, 29 seconds. Shaw finished in 10:39.59 and Alexeev in 11:54.42. Other Floridians to qualify were Jeffrey Tomaszewski, 27, Jacksonville, 9:49:12; Michelle Kramer, 27, Juno Beach, 11:09:00; Richard Nixon, 38, Coconut Creek, 9:42:53; Christine Bosau-Slater, 40, Niceville, 10:56:26; Jeff Cuddeback, 44, Longwood, 9:11:59; and Roberto Roller, 43, Tallahassee, 9:44:46.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
