(Gregory Town, Eleuthera) – Stormy skies cleared just in time for the 2012 version of the Pineapple Fest Triathlon – the Pineapple-a-thon – and New Providence’s Cameron Roach stormed to victory in Gregory Town, Eleuthera June 2.
Roach, in his first-ever Pineapple-a-thon, used a strong run leg to pass New Providence’s Bruce Hall with just over a mile to go. His time of 57 minutes, 13 seconds was the fifth-fastest time recorded in the six years the race has been held on the current course.
Hall, also racing in his first ‘Thon, crossed the Sands Beer finish line in one hour, one minute and 47 seconds.
“After the bike, I was exhausted and I knew Bruce was well ahead of me,” Roach said. “I also knew the person behind me was well behind me so I set off in the run with the mindset of keeping my own comfortable pace just to maintain my position. It wasn’t until I saw [Bruce] going up the first hill that I set my mind to try to catch him. I passed Bruce right at the half way point and turned to him and said “good job, let’s go” trying to encourage him to finish strong…”
Lee McCoy tackles The Hill. Photos by race photographer Linda Lowdermilk
The triathlon, which ran despite the Pineapple Fest being postponed this year, covers a 500-meter swim, 11-kilometre bike and 5K run. It’s main challenge is ‘The Hill’ which sits in wait about one mile north of Gregory Town with racers ascending and descending four times on their bike and twice on the run.
“The hill was massive and very discouraging,” Roach said.
Winning the women’s division, and helping complete an unprecedented husband-wife sweep of the Pineapple-a-thon was Lori Feingold-Roach, racing in just her second full triathlon. Feingold-Roach pulled away from second-place finisher Jessica Robertson on the run leg to finish in 1:19.01.
“We’d hoped for a bigger turnout since last year we had 37 entrants,” race director Tom Glucksmann said. “Overall though it was a fun race and we hope to see more folks next year.”
Glucksmann, a resident of Eleuthera, decided to compete at the last minute to add to the field.
“I’ve been wanting to experience just what everybody goes through out there,” he said. “It’s brutal.”
Notes: Third-place finisher Lee McCoy said his bike computer clocked 35 miles per hour on a descent. Gregory Town’s own Andreas Black posted the fastest run time as part of his team.
2012 Pineapple-a-thon Results
Men’s
- Cameron Roach, Nassau, N.P. 57 minutes, 13 seconds (6.16, 23.57, 27.00);
- Bruce Hall, Nassau 1 hour, one minute, 47 secs. (6.29, 21.06, 34.12);
- Lee McCoy, Nassau 1:07.07 (6.31, 31.48. 28.48);
- Dorian Roach, Nassau 1:11.30 (6.19, 27.09, 38.02);
- Tom Glucksmann, Gregory Town, Eleu. 1:21.42 (6.25, 36.35, 38.42)
Women’s
- Lori Feingold-Roach, Nassau 1:19.01 (9.38, 32.09, 37.14);
- Jessica Robertson, Nassau 1:24.28 (8.21, 42.26, 42.02)
Team
- Vikishi Albury, Reco Belle, Andreas Black, Gregory Town
Photos by race photographer Linda Lowdermilk
