ROHRMAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION

Two Antiguans were among six first timers to complete the ultimate 70.3 mile challenge for the second annual American University of Antigua (AUA) Tinman Rohr Triathlon at Darkwood Beach on Sunday.

Alisha David and Timothy Thomas braved the consecutive 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run, finishing; first female in a time of 7 hours, 13 minutes and 5th male in 8 hours and 4 minutes respectively.

Jeff Emmons, the uncle of the event honouree Jonathan Rohr, also completed the half-iron distance for the first time, having only learnt to swim in January and previously only competed in cycling and running.

The 45 year old USA national Emmons placed fourth overall in a time of 6 hours and 25 minutes.

Three AUA students also completed the event despite having no training or background in the sport. Hanania George, John Roufaiel and Rollando Gomez were officially disqualified after failing to complete the bike leg of the event within the allotted time limits. However their determination would not allow them to quit and after a short rest they were permitted to unofficially continue, eventually completing the entire distance sometime after 8pm, well over 12 hours after the race had begun.

Asked by AUA staff why they would not give in, George replied, “Throughout the event we kept saying to ourselves we have to finish what we started and that though we never met Jonathan, this was for him”.

Roufaiel added, “We knew we are always being watched over and for sure we felt Jon's spirit with us. So many miraculous things happened along that way that you would have to believe if you lived our story.”

The event is dedicated to the memory of former AUA student and triathlete Jonathan Rohr who died suddenly in 2011 during his sleep at the age of 25 due to an undiagnosed heart condition known as HCM.

The race was won by 12-time Guadeloupe national champion, 41 year old Olivier Noglotte in a time of 4 hours and 48 minutes, followed by Antigua & Barbuda’s Rory Butler in 5:19 and Trinidad and Tobago’s multiple-times national champion and former Caribbean champion Ancil Greene in 5:45.

Argentina’s Claudio Delpueche arrived to the race late after a flight delay but in true sportsmanlike spirit completed the event solo despite his time not being considered for the overall results.

Over 200 participants, including 70 AUA students, took part in the event which also included a team component, and a separate 5k walk/run and mini triathlon of 400m swim, 10k bike, 2krun.

First team in Group A males went to Orel Jeffrey, Tristan Matthew and Omari Daniel in a combined time of 4 hours and 58 minutes. Ethan Bento, Ken Jackson and Cassie Vitalis won the mixed team division in a time of 5 hours and 7 minutes. Nathan Marshall, Jyme Bridges Jr and Arthur Mussington won the Male B division in 4 hours and 7 minutes.

Noah Mascoll-Gomes was the fastest swimmer in 29 minutes, 25 seconds. Jyme Bridges Jr was the fastest cyclist in 2 hours, 17 minutes. Ezra Colbourne took the fastest runner in 1 hour 20 minutes.

Stephen Gordon captured the mini tri male division while Julie Etsy took the female divison.
The event was sponsored by the American University of Antigua, Blue Waters Resort, the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, the National Olympic Committee, Jolly Beach, Oasis & Premier Beverages, Big Banana Ltd, Horizons Supplies Ltd, Observer Media Group, LIME, Grant Thornton, Subway, Cedars Pottery, 365Antigua.com and the Antigua & Barbuda Triathlon Association.