Record Turnout for Stissing Triathlon

The Stissing Triathlon drew its largest-ever field on Sunday, June 23 — for the first time in the event’s six years, the opening 800-yard swim had to be staged in three groups to spread out the racers. While some entrants competed in relays, 123 individuals completed the sprint triathlon course, which included a hilly, 12.3-mile bike ride through Gallatin and a 3.3-mile run around the lake. 

After several sweltering days in the 90s, the racers entered Stissing Lake at 8 a.m. on Sunday under cloudy skies and with the temperature in the low 70s. 

The winner was Roee Zoarets of Eilat, Israel, whose time of 1:01:45 was not only 9:51 ahead of second place but also a record for the event. He was the fastest in each of the legs, clocking 9:57 in the swim, 32:36 on the bike and 18:20 for the run.

Hannah Stambaugh of Brooklyn was first among women, finishing in 1:16:51. The youngest competitor, 14-year-old Roan Christmann of New Haven, Conn., came in 13th (1:22:18); the oldest, Mark Turkington, of Bolton, Conn., was 79th (1:49:38) in the newly created men’s 80-to-84 age group.

In addition to Christine Brown of Ancramdale, who turned in a time of 1:55.05, there were seven racers from Pine Plains: Luke Belardo (1:22:36), Karl Staats (1:25:00), Michael George (1:25:54), Frederic Moine (1:38:13), Noah Shulman (1:47:40), George Nunn (1:52:41) and Danielle Boyes (2:11:21).