Columbia triathletes invade Parris Island
Photos and Story
By Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Ann Ross swims the first leg of the Parris Island Triathlon. She ran the Myrtle Beach Marathon in February and plans to compete in an Ironman Triathlon in Idaho this June. She placed third in the 35- 39 age group at Parris Island.

A lot of completely normal human beings who had suffered from a really bad sinus infection all week would probably take the opportunity to rest on the weekend, but Lindsay Agostini is not a normal human being.

This Columbia mother of three, along with 112 other women and 252 men, travelled to the Lowcountry to compete at the Parris Island Sprint Triathlon Saturday, March 21. Agostini not only finished the race, but she placed seventh among the elite females, which is the category reserved for the best woman racers.

Ann Ross is not in that elite category just yet, but she's well on her way. This Blythewood mother of two completed the Myrtle Beach Marathon in mid- February and plans to compete in her second Ironman Triathlon in Idaho this June. In the meantime, she placed third in the 35- 39 age group at Parris Island.

Despite suffering from a nasty sinus infection all week, Lindsay Agostini still placed seventh among the elite female group.

Pat Sullivan, a father of four, got into triathlons about seven years ago at the age of 49. He says growing up he never really focused on one particular sport to any great degree, but enjoyed many. As a child in Southern California, he became a pretty good swimmer and his dad, a very good athlete in his own rite, got Sullivan involved in basketball, tennis, and golf.

The active lifestyle has served him well. While he does take several weekly spin classes at the Northwest YMCA, and swims and jogs as well, Sullivan says he doesn't specifically train for triathlons. Still, he finished the race in 1:21:18 and placed sixth in the 55- 59 age group, which is a testiment to the endurance he says he's built up from just staying active over the years.

Sullivan's next adventure could be the Lake Murray Triathlon or a bike race called the Assault on Mount Mitchell. He definitely plans to make his 12th consecutive bike trip to Myrtle Beach as part of the MS 150 Breakaway to the Beach Bike Tour.

The best part...Tammie Maddock didn't finish anywhere close to first, but that didn't matter to her kids John, Ashley, and McCarley who greeted her at the finish line with hugs and flowers.

Tammie Maddock, a mother of three, says she was inspired by her friends Meg Van Patten of Ohio and Ann Ross.

"They are both full- time moms, and they are both in great shape," she said. "I thought if they can do it, then so can I."

Maddock says since she started regular exercise and training, she feels better, looks better, and is a better mom to her children.

"Exercise makes you feel good about yourself," she said, "and when you feel good about yourself, it makes you a better person, and a better parent."

Maddock finished very close to the bottom of the pack at Parris Island, but that didn't matter a bit to her.

"I might have done better if my (bike) chain hadn't popped off three times, but I finished and that's all that matters...today." She'll try to improve on her time at the Lake Murray Triathlon in May.

Pat Sullivan finished the race in 1:21:18 and placed sixth in the 55- 59 age group. He is pictured here with his son, Mark, before last year's Cooper River Bridge Run.

For more information on the S.C. triathlon series and others plus complete results from the race visit www.setupevents.com.

Triathlon Races

Super Sprint : 400 m swim, 10 km bike, 2.5 km run.

Sprint : 400-740 m swim, 13-20 km bike, 5 km run.

Olympic : 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run.

Half-Ironman : 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike, 13.1 mi run.

Ironman : 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run.