Tinker duo finishes Edmond tri in top 10

Published Aug. 23, 2010
By John Stuart
Staff Writer

Tinker Public Affairs --       For triathlete Travis Newton, doing nothing before the race turned out to be the best game plan. With graciously more mild temperatures than the week prior, the triathletes of the Aug. 15 Hillapalooza Triathlon in Edmond had more to exert amid stiff competition.
     The second annual triathlon, true to its namesake, is known for its up and down terrain, especially on the 40 kilometer bike course. The route certainly didn't disappoint for difficulty, Newton said, as he earned a third place in the men's open Olympic distance, with a time of 2:22:41, and Bob Atkins earned seventh with a time of 2:34:53. The Olympic distance winner (who also won Hillapalooza last year) recorded a time of 2:15:16.
     "All in all this longer course made for a very challenging day for everyone," said Newton, a civilian with the 564th AMXS, indicating the track was slightly lengthier than last year's. Competitors did a 1500 meter open-water swim in Lake Arcadia, followed by the signature hilly bike ride, finished off with a 10-kilometer run.
     For Newton, taking a couple weeks off leading up to Hillapalooza was just the ticket. He competed in the Lighthouse Triathlon two weeks prior and knew his body needed a rest.
     "For myself, I was very happy with the way I raced," Newton said. "I felt like I paced this race very well. I felt very fresh and had my best Olympic triathlon run. I tried to go out quick on the swim and then settle into a comfortable pace."
     "Weather was great for a triathlon with very little wind and slight cloud cover for most of the morning," said Atkins, of the 507th Aircraft Refueling Wing. "The competition was tough. The top few guys are really good and will compare with the top competitors in almost any race in the country."
     Several other Tinker employees competed as well, including Jonathan Mach - 30th place, 2:48:45; Dave Piscitello - 53rd place, 2:58:31; Hunter Lucas - 55th place, 2:59:22; Danny Ponder - 56th place, 2:59:26; Nick Morrison - 64th place, 3:01:13; Larry Silvey, 68th place, 3:03:40.