News Release
Contacts: Bill Burnett, Race Director: 617.515.5929, Michael Ferrante, Media Coordinator: 978.281.8486 or 978.290.6235
Gloucester Triathlon Draws World-Class Athletes and Hundreds of Competitors
In its inaugural year, the Gloucester Triathlon is drawing a record number of competitors and some of the world’s best athletes including Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson, one of the most decorated Olympians in U.S. history.
The August 9th event has already attracted 495 official registrations and is well on the way to securing a sold out race field. Thompson, who earned twelve Olympic medals, eight of them gold, will be joined by several professional triathletes including Jarrod Shoemaker, a member of the 2008 US Olympic Triathlon Team; National Triathlon Champion Ethan Brown; Tony Delonge, former winner of Ironman Lake Placid; and Gloucester native Janda Ricci-Munn, the 2007 Half Ironman (70.3) World Amateur Champion and now a professional competitor.
“By all measures, the Gloucester Triathlon is shaping up to be one the most prominent short course triathlons in New England and we’re thrilled that Gloucester is the host city this summer for this beautiful and challenging course,” said Michael Ferrante, Media Coordinator for the event. “We truly expect an influx of thousands of athletes and spectators and that will certainly aid our local economy and shine the spotlight on our historic city,” he said.
The Gloucester Triathlon course offers athletes and spectators a unique race venue that is designed to showcase the city’s maritime history and natural beauty.
The race begins with a 1/3 mile ocean swim at Pavilion Beach with its panoramic view of Gloucester Harbor. Athletes then transition to the bike portion of the event beginning in St. Peter’s Square. The clockwise bike course is comprised of two 7.5 mile loops of scenic, rolling roads that wind through Gloucester via Route 127 and Route 133. The racers will then transition to a thrilling, spectator-friendly 3.1 mile run around the main streets of downtown Gloucester with a dynamic finish on Main Street.
The Gloucester Triathlon is part of the Commonwealth Triathlon Series, founded by Race Director Bill Burnett. The series features two other short course events: The Cohasset Triathlon on June 28, 2009; and the Marlborough Triathlon on July 26, 2009. AVIA, the leader in endurance sports racing footwear, is the official footwear partner of the Commonwealth Triathlon Series, and for the Gloucester event, the Manchester Athletic Club (MAC) is the official training center. For more information on the Gloucester Triathlon, or to register for the event, visit www.gloucestertri.com.