NBVC hosts Armed Forces Triathlon

Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, played host to two triathlons on Saturday, June 5, with the course winning rave reviews from many participants.

The Admiral’s Cup at 8 a.m. drew nearly 100 civilians and military personnel for a 400-meter (one-third mile) swim, 20-kilometer (12-mile) bike ride and 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run.

“I absolutely love this race,” said Peggy McDowell-Cramer of Santa Monica, who, at 69, has qualified for the Kona Ironman on Oct. 9. “I always have a good time here, and it’s very friendly.”

The U.S. Armed Forces Triathlon two hours later had 73 of the top triathletes in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines swimming 1,500-meters (one-mile) bicycling 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) and running 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The Air Force won the top individual and team titles, despite losing Staff Sgt. Aaron Appelwick during the swim portion. He was taken away by ambulance after suffering an apparent concussion when he was kicked in the head. Paramedics also treated him for possible hypothermia after lifeguards hauled him out of 56-degree water. He was treated at a local hospital and released.

Despite the loss of their team member, the Air Force triathletes carried on, with Capt. James Bales of Texas finishing in 1:46:32 and 1st Lt. Kathy Rakel of Luke Air Force Base in Arizona finishing in 2:00:04. Both winning times are about 5 minutes off the course records.

This is the 11th consecutive year the event has been held at NBVC. Point Mugu was made the permanent host several years ago.

“It is an honor and a privilege to host this event,” said Capt. James McHugh, commanding officer, NBVC.

Most years, the winners would progress to international competition at the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM), but this year’s events were canceled so all efforts can go into the Military World Games, scheduled for 2011 in Rio de Janiero.

The Air Force team defeated the other armed forces with a point total of 121. The Army came in second with 124, Navy third with 136 and Marine Corps fourth with 174. Points are determined by the times of the top eight men and top four women on each team.

Drafting is allowed in the Armed Forces Triathlon, but some veterans of the race said that didn’t become much of a factor this year.

“It was a tough day out there,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Calvert, who was competing in his fourth Armed Forces Triathlon. “The packs on the bikes didn’t stick together. Plus, this was by far the toughest field I’ve seen. It was a very close competition.”

Drafting not being a factor helped the winner of the women’s race.

“It actually played into my strategy and the way I train,” Rakel said. “I always try to be in front of the swim pack, and I like to put my head down and bike as fast as possible. So for me, this race was great.”

Lt. Laura Springer, stationed in Seattle with the Coast Guard, said bicycling is her “weak spot,” and without the packs, she struggled. Her saving grace was teammate Lt. Molly Cook, stationed at Miramar. The last swimmer out of the water, she devoted the bike leg to helping Springer.

“It’s a team sport,” Cook explained. “I went slower on the bike so I could pull Laura.”

Cook ended up coming in last of all the triathletes. Springer came in third among the women.

“It’s all about having fun and staying healthy,” said Cook, who took part in her first triathlon exactly two years prior to the Armed Forces event at the urging of her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Jerry Cook, who also competed Saturday.

Perhaps the most unusual story of the day belonged to Bales, who didn’t arrive at Point Mugu until 13 hours before the start of the triathlon because he had to complete his residency program at Wilford Hall Medical Center, an Air Force Level 1 Trauma Center at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.

“I just finished the 25th grade,” he said with a laugh. In less than a month he takes the board exams to become an orthopedic surgeon. Less than two weeks after that, he reports to Colorado Springs to join the two-year Air Force World Class Athlete Program, a possible prelude to the Olympics.

The second- and third-place male finishers were Army 2nd Lt. Nicholas Vandam of Fort Sill, Okla., 1:47:42, and Army 1st Lt. Darin Shearer of Fort Carson, Colo.

The second- and third-place female finishers were Marine 2nd Lt. Ashley Messoline of Texas Tech Law School and Springer.

Times for all the triathletes are posted at Eternaltiming.com.