Older local athletes Tri-Umph in AARP

Kicking off the holiday multi-sport season, St. Peterburg's AARP Tri-Umph Triathlon showcased not only the best 50-and-over local triathletes but some brave rookies competing at North Shore Pool the week of Thanksgiving.

Weekly pre-race training clinics at St. Anthony's Wellness Center were geared toward the huge turnout of first-time triathletes.

Coaching was provided by Lewis Bennett and Shirley Taylor, both of Largo; Seminole's Roger Burke, Clearwater's Tony Prioli, and Treasure Island's Jackie and Larry Yost.

Showing the younger triathletes how it's done, women's overall AARP champion Patricia Hoffman of Clearwater raced the distance (400-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike ride, and 5K run) in one hour, 12 minutes, 45 seconds.

Hoffman, 51, is a past Goodlife Games champion and Florida Senior Games gold medalist.

Treasure Island's Carol Jean Vosburgh, who -- like Hoffman -- is a retired registered nurse and member of the St. Pete Mad Dogs Triathlon Club, placed second in 1:17:49.

Vosburgh, 56, has won many gold medals in Goodlife Games and Florida Senior Games competitions, particularly in cycling.

On the men's side, winning the AARP overall title was Barry Clark, 53, of LaCrosse, Wis., in 1:01:46.

He was followed by St. Petersburg physician Roland LaJoie, 53, in 1:02:43. A bronze medal was earned by University of South Florida exercise physiologist Don Ardell, 63, in 1:02:50.

LaJoie and Ardell are on the St. Pete Mad Dog team.

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