Progress staff reports
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
SHREVEPORT, La. — Over 1,200 triathletes are expected in Shreveport on Sunday as the 30th Annual Sportspectrum River Cities Triathlon is slated to take place.
The first wave of the 1/2 mile swim will begin at 8 a.m. at Cypress Lake in Benton, La. Next the triathletes will bike 18.2 miles around Cypress Lake.
The 3.1 mile run portion of the event will be contested along the shaded park roads of Cypress Lake.
The race will be followed immediately by an extreme race party at Cypress Lake for the participants.
“It is very exciting to hit the 30th anniversary mark this year,” Matt Brown, race director, said. “As race director over the past 27 years, I have seen the race grow in many ways. It’s quite an honor to be part of the oldest and largest triathlon in the South!”
In addition to Brown, only one other person has been a part of all 30 River Cities Triathlons. Brown volunteered the first year, competed the second and third years and has been race director since year four. However, triathlete Sandy Triplett has competed in all 30 editions of the now prestigious-annual triathlon.
Event weekend begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Cypress Lake, the site of the IronFish Kids Triathlon. Two-hundred mini triathletes will swim, bike and run like their older counterparts.
The IronFish has two divisions. The 7-10-year-olds will swim 100 yards, bike five kilometers and run one kilometer.
The 11-14-year-olds will swim 200 yards, bike 10 kilometers and run two kilometers.
Registration will begin on Saturday at either the new Sportspectrum store on the corner of Fern and 70th St. or on-line at www.sportspectrumusa.com.
