Locals Enjoy Success in Beachfest Events

OCEAN CITY- Several local athletes made their presence felt last weekend in some of the events of the first-ever Ocean City Beachfest, a three-day festival of competition held at various venues on land and in the water around the resort area including the Boardwalk 5-mile Run and the Assateague Triathlon.

The Boardwalk 5-Mile Run and the Assateague Triathlon were just a couple of the dozens of events included as part of the first-ever Ocean City Beachfest. The event also included surfing and body-boarding contests, skateboarding contests and paddleboard contests among others. The three-day festival concluded last Sunday with the assault triathlon on Assateague, which included a half-mile ocean swim, a 14-mile bike leg and a 3.2-mile run. A total of 307 races competed in the triathlon.

The local community was well represented up and down the leader board in the triathlon with several local athletes competing. First-place overall went to Kent Buckson of Rehoboth Beach, who finished the race in a combined 1:10:57. Dean Pierson of Ocean City finished seventh overall in the Assateague Assault Triathlon and second in the men's 45-49 age group. Pierson's 34:32 time on the bike leg was in the top five for all competitors.

Another local athlete who enjoyed great success in the triathlon was Carrie Banks of Ocean City, who finished 22^nd overall and was the second female finisher. Banks was particularly strong on certain legs of the triathlon, finishing in the top five among females in both the bike and the run segments of the race.

Sharon Repass of Berlin was the top finisher in the women's 50-54 division, while Melissa Denault finished second in the women's 40-44 division and Catherine Coffman of Berlin was third in the women's 45-49 division. Other locals competing in the triathlon included Brent Black of Snow Hill, Travis Martin of Berlin, Donna Pierson of Ocean City, Eric Dunworth of Ocean Pines, Chris Riley of Ocean City, Paula Ross of Bishopville, Tom Groton of Snow Hill, Milton Warren of Ocean City, Eric Allen of Berlin and Cathy Vlcek of Berlin.

The night before the triathlon, a 5-Mile Boardwak Run was held in coordination with the Ocean City Beachfest Event with several local runners faring well among the field of 153 competitors. The top local finisher was Corey Dietrich of Ocean Pines, who finished 6^th overall, followed by Corey Zimmer, Ocean City, 14^th; Theresa Moody, Berlin, 19^th; Patti Moore, Ocean City, 31^st; and Catherine Coffman, Berlin, 48^th. Other local competitors included Elizabeth Davidson, Elaine Urban, Tracey McConnell, Donald Parana, and John Grady.