Early on July 4, long before any fireworks lit up the sky over the city of Cortez, a group of athletes participating in the Cortez Burst Triathlon kicked off America’s holiday with a bang. Putting together inspiring efforts and turning in impressive results, competitors provided an up-close example of makes the Burst, and the sport of triathlon, such a wonderful event.
Because the Cortez Burst caters to a variety of different age groups and abilities, different competitors came to the event with different goals. For many competitors, finishing the event was of primary importance. For others, the event provided an opportunity to better previous times. And for a few, the ultimate goal was finishing victorious.
Among the many outstanding performances turned in at The Burst, few were more impressive than that of Ignacio resident Robert Gram. Competing in the men’s competitive division, Gram completed the 500-meter swim, 16-mile bike and 4-mile run in a time of 1:23:39. Leading early in the event after a strong swim, Gram held off the fast-cycling second-place finisher, Graham Robinson, in what turned out to be a very competitive race.
“I felt great coming out of the pool,” said a visibly tired Gram. “My bike portion was nice and strong. I did struggle a little bit on the run. “
“This year’s course had a tough hill and a trail section. Overall, I felt pretty good and the course was a lot of fun.”
For Gram, the win provided confirmation that his countless hours of tough training were worthwhile.
“Normally, I put in about 10 workouts per week. I swim up to 4,000 yards a couple times. I also bike and run about three times per week. It’s nice to see it all pay off.”
Other impressive finishes in the Burst included that of Julie Thibodeau, who finished first in the women’s competitive division with a time of 1:38:24. In the recreational division, which required competitors to complete a 400-meter swim, 12-mile bike and 3-mile run, John Lovegrove paced the men with a time of 1:20:33. Leslie Cox won the women’s recreational division in a time of 1:31:41.
Along with many outstanding performances by older competitors, numerous young athletes put on a show. In the 11-14 age division, Sonny Boren was the top male finisher. Mattison Dominguez was the top female. In the 6-10 year old division, Harry Lesage IV won the male division while Gabriella Foster was the top female.
In the 4-5 year old age division, Hudson Ambrogi and Makayla Kelt flashed great potential, leaving little doubt that they will be mainstays in the Cortez triathlon scene in years to come.
In the adult team division, Heather Foster and Janet Park finished first. In the 11-14 year old team division, a team composed of Sam Bagge, Tyler Cutrone and Garret Boren were victorious. In the 6-10 year old team division, a team of Delta Suckla, Piper Baxstrom and Cruz Hernandez recorded the fastest time.
As exciting as the Cortez Burst was for competitors, it was equally as exciting for spectators, organizers and members local community. “[The Burst] is such a great event,” said Rayna Hale, president of the Friends of Recreation. “Everybody is happy to be in Cortez. We have families out here. It is great to see this community beginning to focus on health and fitness.”
“Events like this put the city on the map,” said Cortez Parks and Recreation Director Dean Palmquist. “Competitors are exposed to the beautiful facilities that we have in this area. If they are from the area, they may come back and use the facilities. Even competitors from out of town may come back.”
In addition to promoting healthy living and showcasing the city, the Cortez Burst is valuable in that it raises money for a good cause. All proceeds from the event go to the Friends of Recreation, an organization that provides recreation-based scholarships to income-qualified individuals.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Cortez Burst Triathlon proved to be an outstanding event and one that will hopefully continue for years to come.
imaclaren@cortezjournal.com