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Williams wins second annual Charlie Williamson Memorial Triathlon

It was a day of firsts at the second annual Charlie Williamson Memorial Triathlon at The Resort at Glade Springs.

There were a record 100 competitors in Chatum Lake about three minutes after the starting horn sounded, and it ended with a first-time winner of the event.

David Williams of Durham, N.C., finished the race in 1:04:50.

Not bad for a 750-meter swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 5-K run.

And, not bad considering he won with relative ease.

R. Alexander Payne of Irmo, S.C., came in second at 1:10:25.

“It was a good day, but I forgot how hard the hills were until I got back out here,” Williams said. “It felt great to get out and have a little better day than last year.”

The family of the event’s namesake, Charlie Williamson, was in attendance and his daughter, Dee Williamson, said “the family was humbled by the support the whole race committee has shown. There is not a better way to honor my dad.”

Williamson was killed while biking in 2008 and the inaugural event was held last year in his honor.

Since last year’s event, sponsorship has grown and the number of competitors rose 50 percent. The endowment will teach children bicycle safety at local schools.

“Last year we were expecting 30 people and we had 75 show up. This year over 100 were in the race competing in some form from individuals to relay teams,” local triathlete and event committee member James Payne said.

“Everything is short enough for everyone to feel comfortable with the event.”

Payne has been doing triathlons on and off since 1986.

“Back then people thought we were weirdos for doing these things; it is more accepted now,” he said.

Newer competitors in the triathlon, like former IBC middleweight champ Billy Fox, said the event was tough.

“This is much harder than being in the ring,” Fox said. “You get breaks between rounds in boxing. In this you go all out for an hour and a half.”

Fox finished in a 1:24:41.

“Most guys hit their mid-life crisis and buy sports cars and chase young women,” Fox said. “I grabbed a bike and started competing.”

“We can’t do this without the support of the community, and it was great,” event coordinator E.J. Salon said.

Salon also mentioned changes in the transition areas made the event much more festive and family friendly.

He went on the say he was happy with the way the event went and was eager to push the limelight away from himself and onto other members of the committee.

Committee member Jeremy Miller went on the compliment the Williamsons, saying, “When I started this, I did not know them; now I feel like family.”

The family knows that is the way Charlie would have liked it: Making friends and promoting a healthy lifestyle.



Williamson Memorial

Saturday

At The Resort at Glade Springs

Top Males— David Williams, Durham, N.C.,1:04:50; R. Alexander Payne, Irmo, S.C.,1:10:25; Chris Thomas, Stoney Point, N.C., 1:10:57

Males 15-Under— Andrew Shaffer, Craigville, 1:35:04

Males 16-19— Marlin Boggs, Charleston, 1:29:08; Seth Massarsky, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1:43:25

Males 20-24— Patrick Bucks, Morgantown, 1:29:30

Males 25-29— R. Alexander Payne, Irmo, S.C., 1:10:25; Drew Cochran, Morgantown, 1:17:14; Dan Cochran, Morgantown, 1:25:50

Males 30-34— David Williams, Durham, N.C., 1:04:50; John King, Christiansburg, Va., 1:28:24; Kurt Blankenship, Daniels, 1:29:59

Males 35-39— Les Blake, Dublin, Oh., 1:25:56; Keith Webb, Beaver, 1:26:07; Mark Persinger, Pence Springs, 1:29:14

Males 40-44— Chris Thomas, Stony Point, N.C., 1:10:57; Billy Fox, Oceana, 1:24:41; John Ledahawsky, Daniels, 1:26:27

Males 45-49— Charles Williamson, Westfield, N.J., 1:15:19; Scott Kilmer, Daniels, 1:26:40; Anthony Pachuta, Great Lakes, Ill., 1:31:23

Males 50-54— Rob Anderson, Cumming, Ga., 1:21:55; Pedro Sanchez, Stanaford, 1:23:17;Thomas Hamilton, Beckley, 1:38:48

Males 55-59— James Payne, Daniels, 1:23:27; William Platt, Charleston, 1:47:26

Males 60-64— Trenton Stover, Point Pleasant, 1:54:24

Top Females— Nicole Thomas, Stoney Point, N.C. 1:23:48; Krystle Bailey, Glenville, 1:28:41; April Chapman, Beckley, 1:36:59

Females 20-24— Krystle Bailey, Glenville, 1:28:41

Females 25-29— April Chapman, Beckley, 1:36:59; Courtney Phillips, Hurricane, 1:48:50; Megan Constantino, Beckley, 1:52:33

Females 35-39— Nicole Thomas, Stony Point, N.C., 1:23:48; Amy Dunkin, St. Albans, 1:42:17; Jennifer Compton, Milton, 1:47:10

Females 40-44— Marilyn Griffin, Durham N.C., 1:52:13, Wendy Koch, Paris, Ky., 2:00:56

Females 45-49— Sally Jarrett, Daniels, 1:39:37, Sheri Mcgraw, Daniels, 1:59:53

By Chris Meadows
For The Register-Herald

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