SALISBURY — On this past Saturday at Branbury State Park, Tim Russell of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., won the men’s Vermont Sun Triathlon in 1:00:30, and the women’s winner was Shannon Sweeney of Tampa, Fla., in 1:13:41. The weather conditions were perfect for the more than 200 athletes racing — 75 degrees and sunny with light wind,

Emma Duffany of Worcester, Vt., was on Sweeney’s heels in the women’s event, finishing second in 1: 14:09.

In the men’s race, Kris Freeman of Campton, N.H., finished second, half a minute behind Russell, in 1:01:04

Russell holds the course record in the Vermont Sun Sprint Triathlon with a 58:29 finish in 2022. He has entered 11 triathlons in the series since 1985 and has won all 11. Russell trailed Freeman by 11 seconds after the 600-yard swim. At mile two on the 14-mile bike ride Russell caught, but could not pass, Freeman. The two entered the transition from bike to the 3.1-mile run together. Russell took just 33 seconds to get out onto the 3.1 mile, run putting time between him and Freeman. Freeman ran at a 5:52 minute per mile pace but Russell ran just a bit faster, a 5:46 pace, to pull away.

Waterbury’s Lance Parker, winner of several Vermont Sun series races, was only 1:10 further back from Freeman to take third. Middlebury’s Kyle Friis, often a top-three finisher, was seventh at 1:06:39, also a time good enough to win the 35-39 age group.

Salisbury’s Jeff Schumann, 69, won the 65 to 69 age group in 1:14:26, good for 15th overall. Middlebury’s Steve Hare was third in the group with a time of 1:21:31.

Also among local competitors, Jorgen Pirrung of Ripton placed second in the 15 to 19 group with a 1:17:16 finish, and Paul Molzon of Bristol was third in men’s 40 to 44, in 1:32:57.6.

RIPTON’S JORGEN PIRRUNG, 15, finished second in the men’s 15-19 age group at Saturday’s Vermont Sun Triathlon at Branbury State Park in Salisbury.
Photo by Pat Hendrick Photography

In the women’s triathlon, Duffany out-swam Sweeney by 1:48. But on the bikes Sweeney out-rode Duffany by 1:51 to take a slim lead. Duffany responded with a quicker transition and moved into first as the run began. Sweeney, however, ran a 6:45 minute-per-mile pace to Duffany’s 6:52 to claim her 28-second victory. Charlotte’s Nelly Jennings was a minute further back in third in 1:15:09.

Stephanie Bandoski of Brandon claimed fourth place in the women’s event in 1:16:39. Bristol’s 71-year-old Wendy Puls easily won her age group in 1:36:54. Cindy Quackenbush of Salisbury, 78, won the 75 to 79 group in 1:51:50, and Middlebury’s Obie Porteous was second in the men’s 40-45 age group.

Friends Christy Lynn of Middlebury and Meg Howard of Weybridge finished together in 1:26:28. They ended the swim together, and then Howard rode her bike 44 seconds faster. Lynn caught Howard during the run, and they crossed the finish line together.

FRIENDS CHRISY LYNN and Meg Howard end in a tie at Saturday’s Vermont Sun Triathlon at Branbury State Park in Salisbury and celebrate the result as the cross the finish line. Photo by Pat Hendrick Photography

The Branbury Classic Triathlon, also run on Saturday, featured a 1.5-mile paddle instead of a swim. Del Guilmette of Bristol won over Eric Foote of Brandon 1:30:39 to 1:31:22. Joy McManaman of Schenectady, N.Y., was third overall and the women’s winner in 1:38:55.

Complete results of both races can be found on vermontsun.com.

The final event in this year’s Vermont Sun Triathlon Series will be held on Sunday, Aug. 17, with another running of a Vermont Sun Triathlon sprint and a Lake Dunmore Olympic distance Triathlon.