JESSICA ROSEN, RIGHT, finished 20th in the Olympic-distance triathlon at Vermont Sun’s Triathlon Series in and around Branbury State Park in Salisbury on Sunday, then the Oakland Gardens, N.Y., resident turned, ran back and joined housemate Patryk Krzesaj to finish the race hand-in-hand with him just two minutes later.
Photos by Pat Hendrick Photography

SALISBURY — After setting a Vermont Sun Sprint course triathlon record in July, Tim Russell of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., returned to Branbury State Park in Salisbury this past Sunday to win the Olympic-distance Lake Dunmore triathlon in the season finale of the Vermont Sun Triathlon Series. His time was 2:09:55.

Julie Smith of Hanover, N.H., was the women’s champion in the race that was comprised of a 1,600-yard swim, 28-mile bike and 6.2-mile run. Her time was 2:27:31.

The triathlons drew the largest number of competitors in Vermont this season.

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD JORGEN PIRRUNG of Ripton cranks through the biking section of Sunday’s Vermont Sun Sprint Triathlon in Salisbury. He won the age 10-14 division of the race.
Photo by Pat Hendrick Photography

Sean McLaughlin of Burlington won Sunday’s Sprint, which consisted of a 600-yard swim, 14-mile bike and 3.1-mile run, in 1:04:24. South Burlington’s Katie Dolbec returned to defend her July sprint title to win again on Sunday in 1:11:06.

As the race staff was putting the finishing touches on setting up for the triathlons the air temperature was just 48 degrees with a crisp north wind blowing. By the time the Olympic race started at 8 o’clock the sun had risen over the mountain and a perfect day for racing was warming up.

The air temperature was still just 60 degrees as the swimmers dove into Lake Dunmore, but the water temperature was at 80 degrees. Russell finished the swim in a tie with Williston’s Jason Lippman. Russell quickly separated himself from the rest of the field with the day’s fastest bike time of 1:07:42, five minutes faster than the next best. He cruised to the win with the day’s third-fastest run. Lippman took second in 2:15:28, and Kyle Friis of Frederick, Md., was third in 2:19:38. Five of the top six men from the July Vermont Sun triathlon returned to race at the very competitive Olympic-distance on Sunday.

In the women’s division, Smith was fifth out of the water. She quickly took the lead with the day’s fastest bike time, 12 minutes better than Colchester’s Angie Defilippi. Smith also had the best run (45:51.2). Defilippi, a former Vermont Sun winner, finished second in 2:40:25. Middlebury’s Steve Hare was 14th overall and won the men’s 65 to 69 age group in 2:40:10. No other Addison County residents participated in the Olympic triathlon.

The sprint triathlon had many local participants and first-time triathletes after the top finishers. Plattsburgh, N.Y.’s Kylie King was the women’s runner up in 1:17:30. The second-place man was John MacEdo of St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1:09:13.

Vermont Sun Triathlon Aug. 13, 2022. Photo by Pat Hendrick Photography

Emily Coppenrath of Vergennes won the women’s 30-34 division in 1:23:02.8. Lauren Ogden of Middlebury took fourth in the 35 to 39 women’s group (1:33:44). Ariel Ogden of Middlebury took third in women’s 40-44 (1:36:10).

Salisbury’s Jeff Schumann was 13th overall and first in the 65 to 69 age group in 1:14:39. Eric Morgano of Brandon won the 30-34 group in 1:18:57.

For complete results and splits go to vermontsun.com and click on the Triathlon logo.

“Many of the people here are doing their first triathlon,” said race director Steve Hare. “Seeing them swim, bike and run their way to achieving their summer goal of better fitness by finishing a triathlon is really great. I think it gives them tremendous confidence in many aspects of their lives.”

Twelve-year-old Jorgen Pirrung of Ripton was the youngest finisher placing 48th overall in 1:31:50 while 80-year-old Ray Lee of Clifton Park, N.Y., was the oldest in 2:10:49.

The races benefited the Brandon Fire Department, Branbury State Park and the Middlebury Union Middle School cross country team. The event’s title sponsors are Woodchuck Hard Cider and the Addison Independent.

In 2023, the Vermont Sun Triathlon and Run Series will be back for its 38th season with half-marathon, 10K and 5K runs held on May 14. The triathlon dates will be June 18, July 16 and Aug. 13. For detailed information go to vermontsun.com.

Photos by Pat Hendrick Photography