Young adults try new sport in Tri-Masters Invitational Kids Triathlon
The second annual South Shore Tri and Tri-Masters Invitational Kids Triathlon Saturday saw athletes age 7 to more than 60 take over Jackson Park's beaches and adjoining roadways.

The number of participants Aug. 4 doubled from last year's inaugural event, producing many budding triathletes. Bernard Lyles, Executive Director of the 1,500-strong Tri-Masters Youth Initiative program and triathlon event director, has seen the community respond.

"Our mission has been to get more people involved in physical fitness, especially on the South Side," Lyles said. "So this year we have more kids and more adults involved."

The South Shore Tri promotes self-confidence, physical fitness, feedback, and a positive attitude for the area youth and first-time adult participants. The 217-yard swim, 4.96-mile bike and 1.24-mile run is not the norm for many of the kids today-most are playing basketball and football by choice.

"We want to give them some alternatives, because not everybody wants to play those games," Lyles said. "We also want to get the kids into something positive."

Lyles knows that many of these kids will have aspirations at the professional level, but he recognizes that running is a necessity for all those endeavors.

"You gotta run. I don't care-through the NBA, NFL. It works out in any sport and in anything that you do in life. You've got to set those goals and reach them-that's what we're doing for them."

One of the first-time triathletes, Kendall Henderson, 12, of Chicago, finished seventh in the individual 11-14 age group. Kendall is a believer in this sport, even after playing the more popular games in his youth.

"This is a new sport for me, so it was good for me to try out biking, running, and swimming-so I'm glad about the place I came in," said Kendall. "Trust me, I'm gonna do this next year, and the year after that."

First-place age group finisher Aaron Lidawer, 13, of Highland Park, said his bike time of 12:24 was the key to the win (25:58). "That's the longest event where you could make up the most time. I was second out of the water, but I quickly caught him (leader after swim) on the bike."

Lidawer is a natural and was pleased there was a tri-sport opportunity today. "I love doing all of them, so why not put them all into one event."

An impressive second place of 29:01 went to Nicolas Laboy, 13, Chicago. Laboy's bike time was his best event. "I didn't use up as much energy. When I did the run and swim I used up all my energy." Laboy's run time of 8:21 was his Achilles heel-33 seconds behind the eventual first finisher.

Third place went to Allen Jones, of Chicago, at 29:48.

Xitlalic Soto-Sida, 13, Chicago, captured first in the individual girls 11-14 group with a stellar 34:12. "I think my best overall was my running, and the worst was the biking."

Second place went to Michelle Esquivel, 12, Chicago, just four seconds from first in 34:16. Third was Shacara Ledbetter, 14, Chicago, at 35:26.

Maxx Hall, 9, of Niles was the top individual in the boys 7-10 age group (19:03). Juan Gonzalez, 7, Chicago finished second at 19:07. Alejandro Ascencion took third at 19:56.

Molly Leavens, 10, Evanston, took third overall in the 7-10 group and first young female (19:30). Second went to Willa MacNeill Zimmerman, 8, Chicago, (21:47). Third place was Terri Martin, 7, Chicago, in 23:03.

The top female adult (406-yard swim, 6.2-mile bike, 1.55-mile run) was Shannon Sterne, 23, Chicago, in 44:46. Sterne captured a lead with her second place on the bike event today (21:49), and top five on swim (5:34). "I died on the running, but I felt so good on the bike," Sterne said.

Second went to Nancy Ladieu, 36, Westmont, at 45:06. Maria Badaracco took third with 45:48.

The top male finisher was Don Utsinger, 60, of Cedar Rapids, at 37:31. Utsinger rose to first with a second place in swim, (1:34), and a dominating first in bike at 18:57. Tom Duk, 33, of Chicago, finished second overall at 39:04. Third went to David Courson, 26, Chicago, in 39:13.

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