SEBASTIAN — Dustin Beller likes to swim, bike and run, and decided to see if he could reap the rewards of his arduous training in his hometown of Sebastian during Capt. Hiram’s River Challenge Triathlon Sunday.
The 21-year-old was pleased with his results.
“Winning is always nice!” said Beller, who came in first place in the event consisting of a 500-meter swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run. He completed it in a mere 55 minutes, 14 seconds.
Beller, who has done several triathlons, travelled from Jacksonville, where he attends University of North Florida, to do the sprint-triathlon.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance not only to race but to win in front of a hometown crowd,” said Beller, whose friends and family members were scattered along the route and at the finish line cheering him on.
The conditions couldn’t have been nicer – a sunny, dry, 80-degree day with a slight chop in the roughly 74-degree water.
While the 90 registered competitors ranged in age, body types and experience, Beller said he certainly felt pressure throughout the race with 2nd place finisher John Hovious, 44, and 3rd place finisher Todd Suklosky, 22, within 200 meters of him throughout the course.
“We were all together, pushing hard,” he said. “It was quite refreshing.”
Houvius’ time was 56:01 and Suklosky’s was 56:19, according to Capt. Hirram’s resort manager Will Collins, who participated in the event and organized it along with Rafael Ospina.
The 500-meter swim launched from the shore behind the resort, the 12-mile bike route took cyclists out to Roseland Boulevard and back, and the 5K run went along the Indian River Lagoon to Sebastian’s Riverview Park and back.
Proceeds of Capt. Hiram’s River Challenge Triathlon will be divided among the Environmental Learning Center, Ocean Research & Conservation Association and Coastal Conservation Association for the purpose of protecting the lagoon from further decline.
“They work from different angles to help protect our precious waterways,” said Collins, 27, who finished in 108 minutes 57 seconds.
As much as he thrives on the competition, Beller felt it was important to support this particular event due to its goal of helping the lagoon.
“It’s nice to be able to race in clean water,” he lamented. “My friends in Port St. Lucie can’t swim in the lagoon because it is so polluted down there. It’s good we are doing something about it before it reaches to toxic levels.”
Competitors ranged in age from teens to seniors, and were locals and from as far away as Detroit, Mich., Germany and France.
Collins was pleased with the turn out and smoothness of the event. He said it was a good way to get people involved in a sprint-triathlon while doing something important for the lagoon.
“This was a little bit more fun and more casual than other triathlons, especially for first-timers,” he said. “They accomplished something major, and they didn’t have to be intimidated or overwhelmed.”