The Dallas Post " ® Section 2 Steppingstone to the Ironman "Greater W-B Triathlon to : 9 9 By DAVE KONOPKI Sports Writer Nearly 700 of the world's best athletes will converge in the Back Mountain this weekend to take part in the 12th Annual Greater Wilkes-Barre Triathlon on Sun- day, August 15. The event will begin at 8 a.m. at the Harveys Lake Beach Club and the first overall finishers are expected to cross the finish line at the Penn State/Lehman campus about 10:30. The major sponsors of the tri- athlon, which has become one of the most respected triathlons in the world, are Wyoming Valley Health Care Systems, Inc., Mrs. T's Pierogies, Bud Light, Mellon Bank and Sallie Mae. The event consists of a 1,500- meter swim in Harveys Lake, a 40-km (24.8 mile) bike race and a 10-km (6.2 mile) run. The race is a qualifying race for the prestig- ious Ironman World Champion- ship in Hawaii on October 30. The Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2 mile marathon. Participants will be competing fornearly $20,000 in prize money, including more than $3,000 to the male and female overall win- ners. The prize money is among the largest triathlon purses in the country, exceeded by only the Chicago Sun-Times Triathlon and the Ironman Triathlon. According to James Harris III, a former co-director of the event, it is the dedication of the hun- dreds of volunteers which make this event special in the eyes of the world. “This triathlon is well-known for its volunteers,” said Harris, who is the president of the Pocono Northweast Triathlon Association. “We have more than 800 volun- teers, including lifeguards, course monitors, firemen, police officers and ambulance personnel. The people keep coming back year after year to help out the athletes.” There are four divisions of competition within the event, including male and female, age groups, professional and team divisions. Awards will be given to the top finishers in each division. In the male and female divisions, the prize money is distributed ~ be run here August 15 among the top seven finishers. Athletes from Japan, Brazil, Canada, Australia, France, Ger- many and the United States are expected to compete in this year’s event, including some world class triathletes. West Chester's Ken Glaw, who won the Australian Ironman Tri- athlon and Canada’s Carol Montgomery, who won the Wilkes- Barre Triathlon two years ago, are among the 25 professional triath- letes who are registered to com- pete. Harris, who will be competing in this year’s event, is hosting a trio of triathletes from Australia. Bruce Thomas, Jason Shortis and Mike Ferris are hoping to use the local triathlon as a stepping stone to the Ironman. “They are here because of our reputation,” said Harris, a promi- nent Wilkes-Barre attorney who resides in Dallas. “They are on a five-month tour. They partici- pated in the Ironman Europe on July 10 and will be going to Colo- rado Springs in early September to train in the high altitude. The only way to break into the top 10 is to sacrifice.” District 16's second Big League championship By DAVE KONOPKI Sports Writer Think repeating as champions is easy? Ask the Chicago Bulls, the Pittsburgh Penguins or the District 16 Big League girl's soft- ball team. Like the Bulls and Penguins, the District 16 team, defending state champions comprised of players from the Back Mountain, Harveys Lake, Northwest and Avoca-Dupont leagues, were pushed to the limit before coming back in dramatic fashion to win the 1993 Big League State Cham- pionship last Saturday in Wil- liamsport. The team, under the direction of manager Bob Gray and assis- tant coach Joyce Tinner, will compete in regional play begin- ning on Wednesday, August 11, in Solomons, Maryland. The winner of the double-elimination tournament in Maryland will “advance to the Big League World Series in Mesa, Arizona. District 16 was on the verge of elimination early Saturday, trail- ing District 12, 3-1, entering the final inning. District 12 had al- ready dealt District 16 a loss ear- lier in the week, 7-5, in the double- elimination tourney. But the lo- cals came back to score two runs in the seventh to force extra-in- nings and plated four runs in the 10th inning to win the contest. But with both teams having one loss, the state title came down to the second contest of the day between the two squads. Again trailing 3-1 entering the seventh and final inning, District 16 erupted for eight runs in the sev- enth for a 9-3 lead and the state crown. “We knew that if the kids played up to their ability we could win,” said Tinner, a former Dallas High School and Penn State University softball standout. “We just have to take one game at a time. Ithink we have the three best pitchers in the state in Cherub Honeywell, Rene Lukashefski and Christie Kittle. “We still haven't peaked yet,” added Tinner, who will graduate this weekend from PSU with a degree in sports medicine. “We need to be consistent. Everyone has been trying to get the big hit and win the game with one hit. We have a lot of consistent hit- ters. They just need to relax and play the game the way they know how. Ifthey do that, they'll be just fine.” Members of the team include: Honeywell, Lukashefski, Jen Smith, Mindy Main, Julie Babcock, Michelle Zagata, Mich- elle Renfro, Sally Friar, Kelly Janosky, Bridget Hozempa, Kelly West, and Christie Kittle. Heather Ruger is the team’s scorekeeper. Sports\Week HB School news HM Classified Hl Calendar THE GOAL - Competitors in last year's Wilkes-Barre Triathlon stride across the finish line. This year's event, the 12th annual, will be held Sunday, August 15. It starts at 8 a.m. at the Harveys Lake Beach Club and ends by 12:30 at the Penn State campus in Lehman. Leading finishers should begin arriving by 10:30. Learning softball strategy College Misericordia’s recent softball camp for girls attracted 12 players from the Lake-Leiiman School District. More than 50 young players from Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties attended the camp which featured Bloomsburg University All-American Kim Maguire on the coaching staff. Misericordia softball coach Charlotte Slocum served as camp director and several Lady Cougar players were among the coaching staff as well. Area girls are, from left, first row, Nicole Newell, Noxen; Missy Gray, Sweet Valley; Marisa Michaels, -, Shavertown; Jen Frank, Harveys Lake; Jaclyn Walkowiak, Loyalville; Jen Basta, Sweet Valley. Second row, from left, Terri Maciejczak, Mooretown; Mandy Scovish, Sweet Valley; Kelly Spencer, Noxen; former Lake-Lehman and Bloomsburg University softball standout Cindy Slocum, camp coordi- nator; Kim Spencer, Noxen; Jessica Kobal, Sweet Valley; Chris Parry, Lehman. Dugan's leads Boro rec basketball league Play continued last week in the Dallas Borough Recreation Bas- ketball League with six games. On Wednesday, Bill Cuffs turn- around jumper from a 3-point land lifted Stegmaier to a 67-66 win over Jim-Jon in a game with playoff implications for both squads. Dugans Pub continued to roll and beat the Mounts 72-55 behind Nafty Hage's 23 points. Brian Brady, Tim Puz and Corey Cherup each had 14 for the Mounts. Team Straigis nipped Payne Printery 73-72 in the nite- cap. Charlie Lamoreaux had 21 for the winners while Jeff Tinner had 27 for the printers. Earlier in the week The Field- house dumped Jim-don 83-67 behind George Marut's 32 points. Dugans ripped Team Straigis 78- 57 with Jim Jaster leading the way with 23. The Mounts picked up avictory on Tim Puz's 3-pointer at the buzzer, 71-68 over Steg- maier. Ted Jackson had 22 for the Mounts while Bill Cuff led Steg with 30. Play continues the Results of the 8-9 Year Old Exeter All Star Tournament: BACK MT. 16 - PLAINS 5 Blake Saba had a double and single, Chip Harrison, 2 singles and Bob Gebhardt 2 singles. Gebhardt pitched six innings giv- ing up 4 hits while striking out 10. BACK MT. 8 - BOB HORLACHER 0 Dave Walters had 2 singles, Blake Saba had a double and single. Jim Bellas pitched six innings giving up five hits and had 13 strikeouts. Back Mountain will be playing Northwest on Thursday at 8 p.m. for the championship. week of August 9 with several big Stegmaier 1857 6 4 games with playoff implications. Payne Printery 4 6 LEAGUE STANDINGS Team Straigis 3 7 Dugans 10 0 Jim Jon 3 8 Fieldhouse 7 3 Mounts 3 8 SportsShorts News from Irem Golf Club Irem Golf News - Frederick tournament was won by Bok Choi. Weekly prizes went to “A” Jane Lloyd, “B" Jane Malpass, “C" Joyce Shaw, and “D” Ruth Post. Putting “A” Jane Lloyd, “B” Corrine Sgarlat. Next week will be the start of the club championship. Playing Tuesday, Thursday and the following Tuesday. Oliver competes in Keystone State Games John Oliver of Dallas was among more than 7,000 Pennsylvania amateur athletes to compete in the 10th annual Keystone State Games Summer Games final August 4-8, in the Greater Harrisburg Area. Oliver entered the baseball competition, Junior Division in the Pocono Region. Oliver is a sophomore student at Lake-Lehman High School. He is the son of John and Carol Oliver. Radzinski competes in Keystone Games Edward S. Radzinski III, of Lehman was among more than 7,000 Pennsylvania amateur athletes to compete in the 10th annual Key- stone State Games Summer Games finals in the Greater Harrisburg Area. Radzinski entered the Decathlon (track & field) competition Open Male, 19-29 age Division in the Pocono Region. Radzinski is a senior student at College Misericordia, working on computer technology and Graphic Design in teaching. He is the son of Edward and Sherry Radzinski. Lloyd and Gager win Silver Medals Matthew Lloyd of Dallas participated in the 1993 Keystone State Summer Games held recently in Harrisburg. Lloyd competed in the Midget Division of Ice Hockey for the Capitol/Pocono Region. Capitol/ Pocono won a Silver medal for placing second. Matthew Lloyd and Philip Gager, both of Dallas, led the Capitol/ Pocono Region to a silver medal. The competition was held at the Hershey Arena, attracting the best hockey players from throughout the Commonwealth. Capitol/Pocono lost only to the Allegheny Region which eventually won the gold medal. Lloyd scored the critical goal to win a 2-1 sudden death overtime decision over the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Region to clinch th silver medal honors. : Lloyd and Gager, who anchored the defense, each contributed assists in a 4-1 victory over the Great Lake/Nittany Region. Both Lloyd: and Gager have another year of eligibility to compete in next year's Keystone State Games. Dallas Gridiorn Club meets Aug. 18 The Dallas Gridiron Club will sponsor a "Meet the Team" night at Dallas HIgh School football field Wednesday, August 18, beginning at 6 p.m. Both the senior and junior high school teams will be present. The public is encouraged to attend.
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