KMCH SPORTS: 204 athletes took part in Manchester’s Hero Hustle Triathlon and Duathlon

BY JON SWISHER – SPORTS DIRECTOR:

The 10th Annual Hero Hustle Triathlon was held in Manchester on Sunday morning as 204 athletes gathered at Schram Park to compete in a 400-yard swim, a 16-mile bike ride and a 5K run. Competitors also had the option of a duathlon, with a 400-yard run replacing the swim.

Elizabeth Eser of Oelwein won the Female Triathlon with a time of 1:15:28, Apryl Mortenson of Manchester was runner-up with a 1:16:42. In the male division 19-year old Zackary Johnson of Dubuque finished with the fourth best time ever in the event with a 1:04:48. Johnson a Sophomore to be at Iowa State University says it was a tremendous overall first time experience for him:

Team 2 and a 1/2 Men won their category and set a team record time of 1:11:21. The Earlville Fire Department took part in the HH for the seventh time and won their division for the third straight year with a time of 1:34:01. EFD member Matt Erickson shares his perspective :

On the Male side of the Duathlon, Manchester’s Nick Olberding set the new record with a 1:09:23.

The 204 participants was the 2nd most of the event since nearly 260 took part in 2020. It included seventeen teams, as the youngest participant this year was nine years old, with the oldest being 74 years old. Athletes came from 68 cities, 35 counties and 5 states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Florida.

Manchester City Parks and Rec Director and coordinator of the event Doug Foley, shared his thoughts on another very successful Hero Hustle:

The Hero Hustle, a fundraiser for our local heroes, with all the proceeds going to Delaware County Public Safety, which includes fire departments, EMS and law enforcement.

Full results can be viewed here.