"The Third Annual Sri Chinmoy Triathlon" (Press Release). Retrieved 2013-01-31. Archive copy at Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.

"Misquamicut, RI - August 9, 1981: It follows the same pattern each year: positions shift dramatically in this three part endurance event as the lead swimmers, with their powerful upper body development, give way to the shorter leg muscled cyclists and then to the long leg muscled distance runners. This year's Triathlon, with its 1 1/2 mile swim, 60 mile bike and 15 mile run, found its winner lurking comfortably within the top ten swim event finishers. Jonathan Durst, 25, of Mt. Kisco, NY, finished the 76 1/2 mile course in 5:06:06. Completing the swim in 39:10, seven minutes behind the lead, Burst moved up strongly during the cycling, finishing first in that event in 3:25:44, with a strong 9 minute lead. Durst maintained this lead throughout the run as positions behind him shifted. First place swimmer James Cutrone dropped to 18th place in the cycling and 26th in the run, finishing 6:04:58. Second place cyclist Russell Reid, who had moved up from 20th place in the swim, dropped to 3rd place in the run. Second place overall went to Mark McIntyre, who had been moving up steadily throughout the Triathlon from 27th to 7th to 2nd.

McIntyre was the 1979 Triathlon winner and had dropped out of 1980 competition when he as overcome by the cold water. 1980 winner Dave Fowler came in 7th this year, while the local favorite, Dave Knapp of Westerly, RI, who placed 5th in 1980, maintained his position, finishing 5th this year also.

'I was confident I had the endurance to place well in this event,' Durst said. 'I finished 8th in this year's Iron Man triathlon, which is a longer course. The unknown today was: would the shorter distance mean someone else could outpace me in the speed department.' Durst, who had captained the Tufts U swimming team, had started biking several years ago, and had been working to increase the speed of his running section by 440 and 880 workouts on track.

Women's winner Kate Freeman, age 29, of Beaverdam, Wisc., came in at 6:35:21 - 9 minutes ahead of 2nd place winner Lorri Sparks, age 28 of Cambridge, Mass. Kate, a member of the US Cross Country Ski Team, was graced with more than her share of help from 'good Samaritans'; at 40 miles into the bike, Kate's front tire blew - next to a cyclist who had just pulled a ham string and who immediately exchanged front tires with her. Cycling in a full 31 minutes ahead of he next woman, Kate found her helper no where insight, at which point a spectator loaned the Triathlete her size 7 running shoes. About half-way into the run Kate's weak knees gave out and even though she had to 'walk it in' she was clearly the uncontested winner.

The Triathlon had been moved to Rhode Island this year, where Misquamicut's long expanse of open beaches helped correct past cramped swimming conditions. There was little surf on the course, which headed straight out for several hundred yards then paralleled the beach in a 3/4 mile loop. Even the jelly-fish, which had been plaguing local waters for the past week, cooperated, with only 3 'bites' reported.

Weather was overcast throughout most of the event, keeping the heat down to a comfortable level. The sun came out as Durst crossed the finish line, with the slower runners being effected most by the rapidly warming day. The biking and cycling events wound through softly rolling countryside, the second two events ending at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. Of the 200 starters 180 completed the swim, 175 the bike and 165 the run. 26 women participated.

Collins, Stephen. "Triathlete's Compete." New England Running. November/December, 1981.

Anyone who took it upon themselves to complete in this event should be commended - Lastly, I would like to extend my congratulations to the Sri Chinmoy people. The organization and execution of the race was tremendous.

 

Krasner, Steven. "For some, marathon is just too short." Providence Journal-Bulletin, August 1, 1981.

There are people who enjoy a brisk jog around the block, there are people who enjoy running a few miles at the local track and there are people who crave marathon.

And then, there are the real zanies - the ultra-marathoners. Nothing is too much for the ultra-marathoners. It's something that gets in a person's blood, and it's a difficult urge to satisfy because there aren't that many events scheduled for people who like to participate in long distance-type activities that challenge their stamina.

Well, next Sunday (Aug. 9), these people can satisfy that urge. The third annual Sri Chinmoy Triathlon is scheduled in Westerly and it promises to be a grueling event...