The first Love City Triathlon attracted 25 participants, some as part of relay teams and others taking on the whole course. While the race featured normal sprint triathlon distances, the bike course was exceptionally challenging because it was almost entirely uphill.
The course started with a half-mile swim in Great Maho Bay, then changed to bikes. Riders battled the undulating Northshore Road into Cruz Bay then climbed all the way up Centerline Road to King Hill Road and back down to Great Maho Bay.
From there it was a 1.5-mile foot race out to Annaberg Plantation and then the 1.5-mile trip back to the finish.
Even with a fall near Cinnamon Bay during the bike leg, David Pritchett, a native of South Africa, topped the men’s field. Pritchett completed the race in 1:42:05. St. John’s Jeff Miller came in second at 1:49:03. Michael Striebel of St. Thomas finished third at 2:00:40.
Turn out from St. Croix participants in the race wasn’t strong, but St. Croix resident Theresa Harper’s performance was — especially on the hilly bike leg.
Harper finished second in the women’s division, completing the half-mile swim, 13-mile bike course and three-mile run in 1:57:30. St. John’s Louise Depuy took first with a time of 1:55:51. Charlotte Morris of St. Thomas took third with a time of 2:00:15.