General News: OC Triathlon Debuts August 21
August 14, 2011
From Orange Country Triathlon
After two years of intense planning and preparation, the Inaugural Orange County Triathlon will be held on August 21. The event will start and finish at the famed Newburgh waterfront.
The Orange County Triathlon (OCTRI) is an Olympic Distance race consisting of a 1500m swim, a 40k bike, and a 10k run.
“It is the mission of the Orange County Triathlon to produce a competitive sporting event, which promotes athletic excellence, sportsmanship, community awareness, and a love for the sport," Orange County resident and Co-Race Director of the Orange County Triathlon Neal Wilkinson said. "The triathlon will bring the community together and promote not only a healthy lifestyle, but the feeling of local support and pride," he added.
“The OCTRI strives to put Newburgh in the news for a positive event and to bring awareness to the beauty we have here in Newburgh,” Wilkinson said.
The race is unique in that it features an open-water, point-to-point swim in the mighty Hudson River, a challenging cycle course through the beautiful countryside of Orange County, including historic points in the City and Town of Newburgh, and finally racing through picturesque Balmville, finishing with a sprint down restaurant row at Newburgh’s famed waterfront.
“We have been working for several years to bring an Olympic Distance Triathlon to the Hudson Valley and finally it's here,” added Jeff Vizethann, Co-Race Director of the event. “The Newburgh waterfront is an ideal location to host a triathlon with the river and beautiful views of the valley. We are thrilled to bring a world-class event to the streets of Newburgh and neighboring towns,” he said.
Wilkinson and partner Jeff Vizethann, both local athletes, who are avid competitors and impressive finishers in several marathons and triathlons, picked Orange County and the Newburgh Waterfront to host such an event because they believed it would be the perfect setting.
“Gorgeous landscapes and riverside features; Orange County is one of the most beautiful places in the country,” Vizethann said.
The team has been working diligently with leaders from the famed NYC Triathlon, local police and fire department heads, local philanthropist and businessman Bill Kaplan, and other government and community figures, to put together this epic event.
“The support we have received is just great. Everyone involved so far has gone above and beyond to make this happen,” Wilkinson said.
The event also has support from several well-known sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Morehead Honda, Poland Spring, Dana Distributors, Aflac, Alexis Diner, Local 17 Laborers Union, Gold’s Gym, Lynn Warren Landscaping, John Herbert Company, Hammer Nutrition, Billy Joe’s Ribworks, Argenio Brothers Construction, Got Wildlife? Gully’s, Price Chopper, U-Haul, Bryan’s Bikes, Mobile Life Support, Arctic Glacier, St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Super Race Systems, The Home Depot, Stephen Eric Enriquez, DMD Prosthodontist, Leo’s Restaurants, Storm King Adventure Tours, The North Face, A.J. Ross Creative Media, Dr. Michele Winchester-Vega, Wells Fargo, Michael Kirtio Advisor, and many others. Under Armour (NYSE: UA) a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear and accessories, is also a sponsor and featuring all the apparel for the event.
The race will be held August 21 at 7:00 a.m. at the City of Newburgh Public Boat Launch located at 2 Washington Place.
Wilkinson and Vizethann are also seeking volunteers and sponsors. All are encouraged to attend, participate, volunteer and/or support in any way possible to make this event a success.
Please visit orangecountytri.com for registration information and more details.
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