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GEORGE MILLER PHOTO |
World Championship Triathlon
BY GEORGE MILLER, MD
KONA, HAWAII--Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain, graduate of Lewisburg High School (PA) and Bucknell University, competed in her first Ironman distance triathlon in Kona, Hawaii on October 10 at the World Championship Triathlon.
She finished the course in a time of 10:28 and change for 51st overall female and ninth in her age group. She had placed fourth in her age group at the Ironman 70.3 Championship in 2008 in Florida.
As a youngster, Sharon competed locally on the Lewisburg Gators Swim team, AYSO soccer, and ran track in high school. In 1987, as this author prepared to compete in Hawaii, I competed in the Boston Marathon as a training event for Kona. My stepdaughter brought along her friend, Sharon Schmidt, to watch. And now, 22 years later, she is an Ironman, too.
She lives with her husband, Christian, in Lafayette Hill, PA (near Phila.) and works for PNC Bank, where she is Vice President of Real Estate. With her swimming and running background, it did not take much encouragement for Sharon to give the bike a try. Early in 2001, she obtained a bike and entered in her first triathlon near Allentown--Evergreen Triathlon. The rest is history.
The overall winner of the Ironman race was Craig Alexander, who, on a humid, hot, and nearly wind-free day, finished in 8:20:21. Chrissie Wellington continued her winning ways for the women and set a new women’s record of 8:54:02.
Now we watch for Sharon the next year? How much will she improve? Will she join the professional ranks? What will be her goals? Time will tell.