Bruce Gennari wins fourth consecutive City Triathlon
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This competition is not for your regular fitness enthusiast. You?d better be more than an enthusiast, you?d better be a very dedicated athlete if you?re going to compete in the 350 meter swim, 15.25 mile bike ride and three-mile run.
This year 244 individual ath-letes and five relay teams set out Saturday morning, with competitors-ranging in age from 13-70. A few lighting bolts were in the area, which pushed the start time back approximately 30-minutes.
Mayor Royce Davenport got things started after a brief delay by welcoming all the contestants as he wished them all success.
Competitors hit the water at two-minute intervals for seven laps in Gilley Pool. They then exited the water and headed for the parking lot at the Civic Center, where the transfer area was located. Athletes then biked down Garfield street, to Hwy. 55 out to Vervilla road and back on 55 to the Civic Center. Then they made the transition for the three-mile run, which went down the walking trail and around the surrounding neighborhoods as the runners worked their way back to the finish line.
Bruce Gennari of Brentwood claimed his fourth title, breaking the tape with a time of 57 minutes and 41 seconds, beating last years time by 52 seconds. Finishing second was Chattanooga?s Zach Winchester with a time of 58:56.
?I?m very thrilled to capture my fourth win here,? said Gennari.
?It was a great day, the weather was nice as the sun stayed behind the clouds making it more enjoyable for all. Last year the bike course was rough with all the construction, but this year everything was smooth and I think that?s where I made up almost one minute over my time last year. The competition is getting better each year and I see this race drawing more top athletes in the future.?
When asked how many more years he could defend his title, Gennari remarked, ?I really enjoy coming here. We make a day out of it. The family always has fun and it provides me time to spend with my kids. The people here at the Civic Center and all the volunteers are so nice, I plan to come back here as long as they keep holding this event.?
This year?s female overall winner was Ginger Smith of Nashville with a time of 1:09:11 and Leslie Trussler of Manchester finished second with a time of 1:12:08.
McMinnville?s Benjamin Myers finished second in the Beginner Male division with a time of 1:16:56 and Jason Austin finished eighth with a time of 1:21:33.
McMinnville was represented with two teams in the relay division. Team Minton, which included Rickey Minton, Wesley Minton and Bryan Chastain finished third with a time of 1:30:33 in the family relay.
The McMinnville Parks and Rec. team of John Austin, Morgan Gonder and Michael Morton finished first in the Corporate division with a time of 1:13:01.
Seventy year-old Robert Alt of Tullahoma who was the oldest competitor finished with a time of 1:16:52 and Blake Adams of Pigeon Forge, who was the youngest athlete finished with a time of 1:28:46.
With each year?s success the McMinnville City Triathlon is getting bigger and better as this year?s event was a qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Triathlete Competition.