More than 280 Elite Endurance Athletes Participated in Blackwater Duathlon 10K Run – 70K Bike – 10K Run in Cambridge, Md. on June 3

Columbia, Md. – TriColumbia, the Mid-Atlantic’s premier endurance event production company, held its inaugural Blackwater Duathlon, the USA Triathlon Long Course Duathlon National Championship, today in Cambridge, Md. More than 280 elite endurance athletes ages 16 – 75 from 29 states participated in the race which consisted of two 10K runs and a 70K bike.

36-year-old Eneas Freyre of Norwalk, Connecticut won the men’s division with a time of 2:48:31, overtaking defending 2011 Champion and 2011 Masters Duathlete of the Year Dave Slavinski. 44-year-old Peggy Yetman of Leesburg, Virginia was the top female finisher with a time of 3:10:29, defeating the reigning 2011 Female Champion and 2011 USAT Female Duathlete of the Year, Gail Kattouf.

Rounding out the top five men were: 2) Dave Slavinski (41, Point Pleasant, NE), time: 2:53:32, prize $600; 3) CW Moran (28, Millsboro, DE), time: 2:57:39, prize: $400; 4) Glen Thompson (43, Charlotte, NC), time: 2:59:53, prize: $300; 5) Lucas McCollum (32, Frederick, MD), time: 3:00:46, prize: $199.

Following Yetman, the top four females were: 2) Gail Kattouf (39, Greenville, NC), time: 3:21:23, prize: $600; 3) Monica Schoeneck (33, Muskego, WI), time: 3:25:59, prize: $400; 4) Shannon Dawkins (36, Herndon, VA), time: 3:27:49, prize: $300; 5) Rita O’Brien (34, Philadelphia, PA), time: 3:28:04, prize: $199.

The inaugural Blackwater Duathlon travelled through portions of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Md., which covers more than 27,000 acres of woodlands, tidal marsh, freshwater ponds and managed croplands. The refuge is home to migrating ducks and geese, as well as endangered and threatened species, including the Bald Eagle and the Delmarva Fox Squirrel. In addition to being named the 2012 USAT Long Course Duathlon National Championship, the top 18 finishers in each age group will be eligible to compete in the ITU Long Course Duathlon World Championships to be held September 2, 2012 in Zofingen, Switzerland. For more information, click HERE.

“We could not have asked for a more beautiful day in Cambridge for this inaugural race,” said Robert Vigorito, President and founder of TriColumbia. “Eneas and Peggy ran and biked incredible races. We congratulate them and all who participated today and qualified for the ITU Long Course Duathlon World Championships. And, of course, we cannot forget to thank our wonderful volunteers and sponsors who made this event a great success.”

Sponsors of the 2012 Blackwater Duathlon include Gatorade, Hammer Nutrition, PowerBar, AquaSphere, Racketjacket, EnduraFit, Princeton Sports, MPT, ASI Photography and BodyMason Performance Therapy.

TriColumbia is a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit and the Mid-Atlantic’s premier endurance event production company providing an array of events for all ability levels across the triathlon/multisport continuum.  Founded by current president, race director and 6-time Ironman Kona finisher, Robert Vigorito in 1983, the organization makes a difference for participating athletes by providing superior events and memories to last a lifetime, but also gives back to the community by supporting many local and regional charities, which provide a full spectrum of support for citizens in need. In 2011, TriColumbia contributed nearly $200,000 in direct donations to dozens of local and regional charities and community organizations, and enabled numerous charity teams to fundraise in excess of $500,000 to support their missions.

For photos from the race, contact Kristen Seabolt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 443-986-4803. For full race results, visit http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=25489#racetop.