Maser, Belmonte win Road Rash ‘N Splash triathlon

MEEKER I Karl Maser and Lisa Belmonte set gender records in the fourth annual Road Rash ‘N Splash triathlon, held last Saturday. Thirty-one people participated, including 22 individuals and three teams, where competitors swam 250 yards in the pool, biked six miles on Sulphur Creek Road and ran two miles around the schools and ballparks.
Maser was the defending male champ and took almost two minutes off last year’s time, completing the triathlon in a record time of 42:26. Maser was pushed by Rangely’s Steve Green, who finished with a time of 43:19. Both competed in the 40-49 age division and each have entered a few triathlons.
“My first one was two years ago and it got me started,” Maser said.
“I like endurance sports and the three disciplines and got into it last year,” Green said of triathlon competition.
Belmonte won the inaugural Road Rash ‘N Splash in 2008 and set the record this year with a time of 45:26, just 24 seconds ahead of 2009 winner Natosha Clatterbaugh.
“She’s a tough competitor,” Belmonte said of Clatterbaugh.
Both women won their respective age divisions.
Keenan Walter was the youngest competitor and won the 19-24 division (52:15), Mathew Weisbrod (1:03:16) won the 25-30 male age division and Rick Weisbrod (1:11:41) won the 60-69 male division. Nicole Dupire (54:37), won the women’s 25-30 division.
Todd Lucht (55:47) won the 31-39 age division, the same division Clatterbaugh won, with Heather Burke (57:38) second, Erica Stewart (58:45) third and Trina Zagar Brown (59:06) finished fourth.
Kent Walter (45:58), Bob Lange (58:20) and Kyle Timmer (1:07:21) all competed in the division Maser won.
Rachel Murray (48:11) was the runner-up in Belmonte’s division. Mary Cunningham (1:00:20) was third, Natasha Goedert (1:05:47) was fourth, with Kellie Jex (1:05:58) right behind. Jex optimized the triathlon’s name, completing the course with bloody knees and hands after losing control of her bike in the gravel. Diane Lange completed the triathlon in the same division in 1:06:10.
Jennifer Miles won the 50-59 division with a time of 54:19 and Mary K. Krueger (1:04:72) was second.
ERBM Recreation and Parks District employees Chance Walker, Jordan Haney and Alema Atoafa were the only male team to compete. The trio finished the triathlon in 47:44. Mona Maser joined Angie and Bobby Castaldo to become the fastest (47:59) coed team, defeating Tom, Holly and Larry Knowles (51:15).
“It was a great day, beautiful weather and awesome competitors,” organizer Nicole Dupire said.