SPORTS Sunday, August 25-31, 2013 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 9 | ¥ ) Three-peat @ After 17 years without a win, Sean Robbins dominates WB Triathlon TOM ROBINSON For The Dallas Post Sean Robbins got his start as a triathlete in 1994 at the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon. Robbins needed 17 years before he won the race for the first time. Now, he is holding on to that title. After winning for the third straight time by swimming, cycling and running through the Back Mountain course in 2:10:34, Robbins said there are no wins in his career that he enjoys more. “Because of the sen- p Yimental value, this is = such a special thing for me,” the 43-year-old from Shavertown said. “It real- ly got me started and it’s my hometown race.” Robbins, alawyer for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, found out what may seem obvious that training to be a triathlete and winning a triathlon are not easy. It was a long road to becom- ing the champion of the Olympic distance race that includes a 1.5-kilo- meter swim at Harveys Lake, a 40-kilometer bike course that winds its way to the Penn State Wilkes- Barre Campus and an 11-kilometer run that fin- ishes back at the college. “I kind of went through the school of hard knocks. with some of my training, which is kind of natural when people first come on the scene,” Robbins said. “People sort of learn by doing. I made some mistakes along the way. “A lot of people have coaches now, but it was not so prevalent when I first started.” Robbins also has some coaching guidance now and has refined his training practices over the years. He needed another major change this year after thinking a year ago that he might have been starting the decline that will eventu- ally be a factor because of age. For years, Robbins had given himself Fridays off as his own “rule” about training. At the end of a week of work and life’s errands, he thought it made sense to take a rest from training. Robbins broke that rou- tine last year in an effort to put in more miles on the roads and more yard- age in the pool. He found out his body missed the necessary rest. “I struggled a little bit last year,” he said. “I changed some of my training and the things I did were not really work- ing, so I thought maybe this is all catching up to me, maybe I've hit my peak and I'm starting the downward slide.” Now that he has recog- nized the value of resting _in a sport for people who. clearly do not rest much, Robbins’ performances Welham pl BILL TARUTIS photos | FOR THE DALLAS POST Sean Robbins, of Shavertown, leaves his bicycle behind to run the last leg of the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon en route to winning his third in a row. are improving this year. “By the time I got to Friday, I was always worn out,” Robbins said. “What I found out is that recov- ery was important.” Swimming is always his biggest challenge against his top competition, but Robbins was going strong at the end. He won the triathlon. by almost four minutes overall, beating every other entry by at least a minute and most by several minutes in the running portion of the event. Emily Sherrard, of Philadelphia, . won the women’s title in 2:24:36 to place fifth overall. Wyoming’s Nick Hetro John McGurk, of Dallas, emerges first from Harveys Lake during the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon. won the Sprint Distance Division and Wayne Sem offers Cradle Lacrosse program Children ages 4 to 8 years old interested in learning to play the rapidly growing game of lacrosse are invited to register for the new Cradle Lacrosse program to be offered at Wyoming Seminary Upper School, Kingston. Program sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at Klassner Field on North Maple Upper School campus, beginning on Saturday, ept. 21 and continuing through Street, on the Nov. 2. Cost is $120. Cradle Lacrosse is a nationwide program designed to teach basic lacrosse skills to boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 8 years old in a fun, energizing and sup- portive environment. The program provides all the necessary equipment for the chil- dren for no additional fee. The curriculum to teach the basics of lacrosse to children in an age-appropriate is designed and fun way. The Sem Cradle Lacrosse pro- gram will be directed by Catie Kersey, head coach of the Sem var- sity girls lacrosse team. Kersey, who was a member of the Wesleyan University wom- en’s lacrosse team, has led the Blue Knights to Wyoming Valley Conference and PIAA District 2 championships and state champi- onship competition for the past three years. Lions plan golf tournament The Golf Tourney Committee of the Dallas Lions Club met recently to finalize plans for its second annual tournament at Newberry Estate in Dallas. The event will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8 and will include lunch, entertainment and prizes for everyone. Interested participants and sponsors may contact Joe Czarnecki at 255-0136. From left, are Don Berlew, Joe Czarnecki, chairman; and Jack Williams. The first wave of swimmers start the first leg of the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon at Harveys Lake. Devine won the AquaBike Matt challenge. SPORTS BRIEFS ¢ RAIDERS INVITE PARTICIPANTS Kingston Township children between the ages of 5 and 11 are invited to attend Kingston Township Raiders football prac- tices between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Center Street Park. For more information, call Stacy Wydra at 301-8841. ¢ FATHER-SON TOURNEY SCHEDULED The Cook’s Pharmacy Second Annual Father Son Baseball Tournament and Home Run Derby to benefit the Dallas Miller, Loomis and Jack Tidball formed = the winning Olympic Distance Relay. John Foundation will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Back Mountain Little League Field. Gametimes are 10 a.m. for 9-10 year-olds, noon for the Home Run Derby and 1:30 p.m. for 11-12-year olds. Registration fee is $50 for each father/ son team which includes a t-shirt for both father and son. Children must be league age 9, 10, 11 or 12 years old to participate. Registration deadline is Aug. 24. Registration forms may be dropped off or mailed to Cook’s Pharmacy, 1909 Memorial Highway, Shavertown. Jr. Mounts D team gets big win The Dallas Junior Mount D-Team opened the 2013 football season with a 32-0 win over the Kingston Township Raiders. The four-man backfield of Lucas Tirpak, Dylan Geskey, Nate Malarky and Aaron Patton powered its way through the tough Raiders defense for the win. Leading the way for the backs was a stout line made up of Michael Elgonitis, Colby Powell, Dalton Hislop, Bryce Casey, and Archie Stephens. On the defensive side, Luke Hajkowski, Charlie Stephens, Noah Greco, Logan Geskey, and the powerful Mason Calvey led the way to ensure a victory for the season opener. The D Team will take the weekend off before heading to Swoyersville on Sunday, Sept. 1 against the Sailors. Two holes in one recorded at Huntsville Justin Saraka, of Shavertown, recorded a hole in one on Thursday, Corbett. Aug. 8 while golfing at Herb Huntsville Golf Club in Wyoming, Lehman. Saraka aced Hole No. 5 from the white tee markers Sunday, ing the | Back lo School in the Back Mountain Twin Stacks C Center 1 100 Memorial H * Open Mon - using an 8 iron. His shot was witnessed by Kasey Fehlinger, of recorded his second hole in one on Aug. Member-Guest . Plenty of Parking Easy In and ong o Fun For All Soorts | Fans Tournament at Huntsville Golf Club in Lehman. Fehlinger aced Hole No. 15 from the white tees using a 4 Hybrid. His shot was witnessed by Robert Edgerton Jr., Peter Borsuk and Richard Gower. 11 dur LOCATIONS NEAR YOU Sts asor Ki
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