The McCreary Community Building in Perry hosted its annual sprint triathlon Saturday morning, and ten teams took to the pool at 8 a.m. for the first leg of the swimming-biking-running event.
John Anderson, director of the MCB, welcomed a number of notable athletes to this year’s race, including Eric Bertelsen, winner of the long jump in the 2015 Drake Relays. The West Des Moines triathlete was joined by fellow competitor Megan Nitka of West Des Moines, who said she will compete again tomorrow at the State Games of America in Lincoln, Neb.
Maddi Heun of Dayton, a friend of Lisa Anderson, wife of the MCB director, was also in the field.
Becky Towers, MCBÂ program coordinator, was also on hand, directing registrations and facilitating the games. She was assisted during the race by Perry High School student Chelsea Krueger, 16, Danery Salgado, 21, of Perry and Brenda Torres, 20, of Perry.
MCB Administrative Assistant Lisa Schulte said this was the first sprint triathlon coordinated by the Anderson-Towers team.
“We have about 25 to 30 athletes here today,” Schulte said. “It’s been arranged by John and Becky very well.”
