Past winners dominate Spudman, again

By MARK JONES South Idaho Press Monday, August 1, 2005 12:07 PM CDT

Monte Still and Debbie Perry defended their Spudman Triathlon titles with first-place finishes in the men and women's elite divisions Saturday during the 19th-annual Burley Lions Club Spudman Triathlon at the Burley Golf Course.

Winning the Spudman has become routine for both. The two competitors have won a combined seven Burley triathlons.

Perry, a native of Ogden, Utah, has won an impressive four straight. Still, a resident of Salt Lake City, has claimed the top spot three out of the last four years.

In addition to winning last year, Still also won in 2002.

"It feels good," Still said. "It's always good to come back to defend your title. I'm just happy to be here let alone win."

For Perry, the win is satisfying.

"It always feels satisfying to win," she said. "Knowing the hard work pays off."

Still completed the race in about two hours, while Perry crossed the finished line about 20 minutes later.

Still headed into the final leg of the race - the six-mile run - in sixth-place.

"I kind of kept it steady," he said. "I had a feeling they would come back to me."

However, several competitors including Kelly Williamson and former Heyburn resident B.J. Christenson put a good scare into Still.

"These guys really pushed me hard," Still said.

Williamson and Christenson finished second and third respectively.

Perry was never threatened en route to her fourth straight Spudman Triathlon victory.

But she never let up. "Until you know where you are," she said. "You really don't know if someone is coming to hunt you down. Today, I just did the best I could do."

Close to 1,400 individuals took part in the annual event Saturday, which is an all-time record.

"The organization does a great job," Still said. "Every year it gets better and better."

Competitors began the race with a mile-long swim from the boat docks at the Burley Golf Course to Scholer Park.

From there, competitors got on their bikes and traveled down Highway 81 four miles past Declo and back.

The final leg of the race was a 6.2 mile run, which began and ended at the Burley Golf Course.

"The runs course is fantastic," Still said. "It is mostly flat."

Overall, Perry felt good about her performance.

"It was a solid day," she said. "I really was grateful I felt as well as I did because I hadn't been feeling well all week."

Due to computer problems at the finish line, complete results were not available at press time.

Link to South Idaho Press
Link to the archived story at the South Idaho Press. (Don't know how long it will remain available)