THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 1996 TAG: 9609170130
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: CITY REPORT
LENGTH: 38 lines
Smooth surf, calm winds and morning temperatures in the 60s made Sunday a great day for swimming, running and biking the Sandman Triathlon, the kickoff event of the 23rd annual Neptune Festival.
Competitors in the triathlon, this year with a record field of 570 athletes, swim one kilometer, bike 14 miles and run 5 kilometers.
Men's winner, Craig Lauinger of Alexandria, led from start to end, finishing the competition in 1:08.47.
Women's winner, Leslie Willis, a Virginia Beach resident and physical education teacher at Cox High School, finished at 1:12.36. A nine-year veteran of the race, she has won several times and her familiar face drew loud cheers from the thousands of spectators lining the Oceanfront route.
The Neptune Festival, the city's annual fall gala, continues through Sept. 29 with an air show, music, parade, fireworks, more athletic competitions, sandcastle contests and more.
For a full schedule of events, see Beach Break on Page 6. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MIKE HEFFNER
Scorers try to keep up with the triathletes as they transition from
the 1K swim to a 14-mile bike race.
Craig Lauinger of Alexandria checks his watch against the official
time as he finishes as the men's winner of Sunday's Sandman
Triathlon.
LEFT: Tanner Shilling jogs through the transition area, hoping to
save a few seconds while starting the bike leg of the triathlon.
RIGHT: Dudley Ware struggles to get out of his swim gear while
emerging from the ocean after the event's first leg. by CNB