Ready, get set, go!

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Children begin a training session Monday for Saturday's mini-triathalon.

By JON WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 26, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Nearly three months of training is paying off. With luck, that is, plus a final push of perseverance -- and remembering to bring a bathing suit.

About 60 youngsters ages 8 to 14 have been training since January to complete Saturday's Meek & Mighty triathlon, a shorter version of the Olympic-distance St. Anthony's Triathlon also being held this weekend.

Early this week, the children practiced putting their mini-triathlon's three events together -- doing the run, bike and swim legs one after the other at John Hopkins Middle School and at the Campbell Park swimming pool across the street.

The idea was to get them used to the event's non-stop action, which last year surprised some of the young athletes.

"They were shocked," said Gil Peri, who is in charge of the training program. "They said, "You mean we have to do all three?' "

Peri supervises the second-year Triathletes Against Tobacco program being conducted by Bayfront-St. Anthony's Health Care. Financed by an American Heart Association grant, its purpose is to encourage healthy lifestyles among youngsters.

The triathlon's transition stages between each of the legs can be confusing. The event also calls for measured pacing to avoid making fatigue worse than it should be.

Roger Burke, a seasoned triathlete who is helping coach, watched the youths getting off their bikes and starting to run.

"Do not go fast," Burke yelled, running along with the kids. "You want to have enough energy to get to the pool and swim." Not all the children managed the swim practice Monday. About 18 had forgotten their bathing suits, Peri said.

* * *

Registration has closed before event day for the first time in the 17-year-history of St. Anthony's Triathlon, said director Steve Meckfessel.

"It's our largest field ever," Meckfessel said. He didn't have a precise number, but said more than 1,500 individual athletes and more than 100 relay teams will compete

(Registration does remain open for the Meek & Mighty. It will continue 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Straub Park and Saturday morning at North Shore Pool starting at 7 a.m.)

But last-minute entries for the big triathlon are being turned away, Meckfessel said.

"My phone's ringing and my e-mail is jumping," he said. "I've heard every story."

He attributed the interest to a year of steady work, the event's successful history and the efforts of volunteers.

* * *

Kathy Morgan is one of the busier volunteers. She matches elite athletes with the families and individuals who let the visitors stay at their homes for the weekend. She also coordinates picking up the athletes at the airport.

Each year, 80 to 100 elite athletes participate, and Morgan finds accommodations for 50 to 60

Some athletes enjoy corporate sponsorships and could have hotel rooms paid. But others prefer staying with people in the community, many of whom are amateur triathletes. Sometimes lasting friendships are formed.

The elites will start arriving today and Thursday. They come from around the United States and from nations such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, England and Germany.

"Some of the (local) triathletes will invite them to a track workout, or the Wednesday night swim at Pass-a-Grille," Morgan said.

Among those coming in is Jennifer Gutierrez from Greenwood Village, Colo. She finished third among women last year and recently won a spot on the United States Olympic triathlon team for this year's games in Sydney, Australia.

Some of the elite triathletes come back to train in the off-season, Morgan said, because of the good weather and because it is less expensive for Europeans and Canadians to come here, as opposed, for instance, to California.

Dan and Amy McClenathan were hosts to two triathletes last year, and this year one, Jimmy Riccitello, will stay with them again. The McClenathans are accomplished amateur runners/triathletes whose four children ages 7 to 11 also enjoy the visitors.

"It was a good way for them to see top athletes," said Amy McClenathan. "Jimmy was one of the top finishers, so it was neat for us to watch him." Morgan's job gets a bit tense in the days just before the event. She said earlier this week that about six athletes remain to be placed.

"Somehow it's always fallen together. I pray a lot," said Morgan, who has handled the job for five years.

Anyone interested in being a host can call Morgan at 823-4938 or at 823-2727.

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