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Saturday, May 10, 2008

Gulf Coast Triathlon; Kasey Franks Becomes a National Champ!

PANAMA CITY BEACH- It’s time for the 26th annual Gulf Coast Triathlon. The swimming, biking and running event that takes the athletes on a 70.3 mile trip. That’s about the distance from Panama City to Eglin Air Force Base. I think I’ll pass.

Things kicked off a little after 6 a.m. Over 17,000 triathletes leaped in the gulf behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort for the 1.2 mile swim.

Next, it was time to change into the biking gear for the 56 mile bike ride. They rode from Front Beach Road to Highway 79 then to Highway 388 and back.

The last leg, the 13.1 mile run down Thomas Drive, and everyone’s goal of course is to cross the finish line, and the first person to do it was Mike Neill from British Columbia, Canada, in 4:06:38, winning his third straight Gulf Coast Triathlon.

The first woman to cross was Gabriela Loskotova from the Czech Republic, but she didn’t finish first, Atlanta’s Amy Kloner finished about five minutes faster, because she started ten minutes behind Loskotova.

“Compared to the last few years, the swim was rough. We’ve had flat water the past two years. So, this year, waking up to breaking surf was quite a change,” said men’s winner Mike Neill.

“You know it’s kind of lonely out there, I didn’t see anyone until about mile eight and a half when we turned around, then we started seeing all the other athletes, and it’s so much fun being able to see people and cheer each other on, but it was a lonely first eight miles, I’ll tell you that,” said women’s winner Amy Kloner.

NEW PORT RICHEY-Bozeman sophomore Kasey Franks is now a National Campion!

At today’s national weightlifting championships held New Port Richey, Franks finished first in her 199 pound weight class.

She benched 205 lbs., clean and jerked 155 lbs., for a combined total of 360 lbs., good enough for a first place finish.

Congrats to Kasey for becoming a National Champion!

PDL Soccer

Academics 1
Pirates 1

FCCAA/NJCAA Gulf District Tournament

Chipola 8
St. Petersburg 7 (F/10)

Chipola Advances On!

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