- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team USA

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

"Sri Chinmoy Triathlon" (Press Release). Hein, Drubha. September 19, 1984. Retrieved Date, September 15, 2012. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York. Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island, Sept.9, 1984 (1-1/2 mile swim, 60 mile bike, 15 mile run).

"Sri Chinmoy Triathlon" (Press Release). Hein, Drubha. September 19, 1984. Retrieved Date, September 15, 2012. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.

Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island, Sept.9, 1984 (1-1/2 mile swim, 60 mile bike, 15 mile run).

After a triathlon a week and a number of second and third place finishes this season, Roger Prevot of Lexington, MA finally struck gold as winner of the 6th annual Sri Chinmoy Triathlon in Westerly, Rhode Island, Sept. 9. The twenty-five year old athlete clocked 5:20:58 for the 72 mile course, scoring a decisive victory over Rodolph Von Berg of Belgium (5:28:57). This was the fourth time this year Prevot and Von Berg have met in close competition - their next meeting will be the October Iron Man in Hawaii.

Prevot was first to break in the event's new course which centralizes each leg of its 1-1/2 mile ocean swim, 60 mile bike and 15 mile run around Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, RI. The new flat and fast cycle course winds through the new England Town of Westerly before hitting the long straightaway of Route 1, while the running course passes the scenic Awestruck River and gracious mansions along fashionable Watch Hill.

Photo Caption: Winner Roger Prevot receives a friendly assist from local police and residents during the Sri Chinmoy Triathlon. (Bhashwar).

First woman despite a leg break last winter was Kimberly Walsh, 24, of Cranston RI. Kimberly's time of 6:09:56 also secured her second consecutive win as Rhode Island Governor's Cup recipient, an honor she shares this year with third overall male Donald Dunwoody, 25, of Kingstown, RI. (5:37:38). Each year the first Rhode Island man and woman resident have their names engraved on the Governor's Cup which is kept in the State House in Providence, RI...

Photo Caption: Kimberly Walsh and Roger Prevot, winners of the Sri Chinmoy Triathlon. (Bhashwar).

Top honors in the master's division went to 43-year old Guy Stretton of Old Greenwich, CT who clocked 5:43:02. First vet in 6:39:36 was Bill Spinder, 51, who last year set a new age category course record in this event. Calvin Dunwoody, 63, father of Donald Dunwoody and oldest competitor, finished third vet in 7:33:20. First woman vet and future competitor in the upcoming Iron Man was Gillian Al-Akel, 50, of Guilford, CT.

In keeping with the unpredictability of the triathlon event, Prevot's 73rd place emergence from the rough, 63 degree water did not forestall his ultimate victory. Recovering from a swim time 33 minutes off his PR for the distance, he picked up 63 places during the bike segment, entering the run tenth, just seconds behind Von Berg. He then comfortably ticked off sub-six miles along the riverside course until he claimed the lead five miles into the run, moving easily to his undisputed win of 5:20:58.

Kimberly Walsh never relinquished her lead once she claimed it at mile 30 of the bike segment. She emerged from the swim second woman behind an incredible Susan Letterle who left the water second overall in 41:15. Sixteen year old Susan works as a lifeguard at the hosting Misquamicut Beach during the summer. She finished the event eleventh woman in 7:19:25. First swim finisher was Steve Atkins of Norwalk, CT in 41:01.

Photo Caption: Start of the Sri Chinmoy Triathlon. (Bhashwar).

As a Hawaii Iron Man qualifier, this event awards entrance into the Hawaii triathlon to the top age category winners, or to the next in line, should the winner either be already registered for the West Coast event or prefer not to compete. Gaining entrance from the Sri Chinmoy Triathlon to date are Don and Calving Dunwoody, Guy Stretton and Kimberly Walsh.

The water, colder and rougher than in previous years, resulted in slower swim times than usual and prompted a decision from race organizers to allow wetsuits in next year's event. Next year's race is slated for Sept. 8 at the same location in Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island.