ATSU to host 25th annual NEMO Triathlon
Posted: August 20, 2009
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – On September 13, hundreds of athletes will splash into the waters of Forest Lake at Thousand Hills State Park to kick off the 25th anniversary of the Northeast Missouri Triathlon, organized by A.T. Still University.
This year’s triathlon boasts even bigger incentives for participation – an official racing tote bag filled with a performance t-shirt, water bottle, and other athletic necessities, larger cash prizes for the top finishers and a post-race party with a barbeque chicken picnic .The top three male and female athletes across the line will also receive a complimentary entry to the 2010 HyVee Triathlon, which takes place in Des Moines, Ia. HyVee is one of the sponsors of the event, and the triathlon is one of the longest running events sanctioned by USA Triathlon, the governing agency for the sport.
“We have more community support and more interest than we’ve had in a while,” said Dan Martin, race director and director of the ATSU Thompson Campus Center. “We have seven major sponsors this year, so it looks like we’re headed for a banner year in terms of participants as well as community support.”
Participants can begin checking in for the event at 6:30 a.m. on race day, and the triathlon will start at 8 a.m. Although the race is a daunting test of fitness, individuals who want to try their hand without completing the entire event may join as part of a team. The teams are open to two and three member male, female, mixed, and master’s teams. A .75-mile swim starts off the triathlon, followed by an 18-mile bike ride, and culminating in a 5-mile race to the finish line. Once the triathlon ends, the post-race party will officially begin, including an awards ceremony and race results.
Since the first inaugural race in 1985, over 40,000 people have visited Kirksville to take part in the triathlon. There is still time to sign up for this year’s event, and registration is available by mail, in person, or online at www.active.com. All entries must be received by Wednesday, September 9. The NEMO Triathlon also has a website, www.nemotriathlon.org, and, new this year, a Facebook page to connect participants.