The sport of triathlon has increased in popularity among military audiences with a number of races devoted solely to military competitors, such as the Armed Forces Triathlon Championships which took place last May in Venture County and the World Military Triathlon Championship, which took place this year in Sweden .  The US Naval Academy Tri Team, which won the 2007 National Championships led by team captain Erik Bates, will also be competing in The Nation’s Triathlon®.   

            Jeffrey Rule, a Marine Corps competitor, is joining The Nation’s Triathlon® in memory of his friend and fellow Marine, Major Meghan McClung, who was killed last year in Iraq .  According to Jeffrey:  “Meghan was an All-Marine Team triathlete and a great competitor.  We used to swim together and she was an inspiring and phenomenal person.  I will be competing this year in honor of her and the many others who served and continue to serve in the Middle East .”

            Kimberly Lee, a Security Forces Captain in the Air Force, did her first triathlon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team-in-Training last April.  The Nation’s Triathlon was to be her second triathlon.  She notes:  “I signed up for The Nation’s Triathlon because it’s held locally and the course is just awesome.  I’ve been training for several months but just found out that I’ll be deployed back to Iraq and will be gone in September.  Count on me to be back next year!”

            “This will be my first Triathlon in 18 years,” notes Captain Bob Barwis, OSD.  “When I was an instructor at the Naval Academy , and in my late twenties, I picked up the sport but it’s been a long time since I competed.  When I heard about the race, I was looking for a challenge to help me get back in shape.  While I am stationed at the Pentagon now, I still am determined to find time to train in the three disciplines and be ready on September 14th.”

            Rob Scott, a member of the Marine Corps, competes in triathlons in support of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.  The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (www.semperfifund.org) provides financial assistance and quality of life solutions to Marines and Sailors injured in combat, training, or with life threatening illnesses.  The fund also helps families defray the expenses incurred during hospitalization, rehabilitation, and recovery.  Over the past 18 months, Scott has competed in six marathon/triathlon events to help raise money and awareness for the group and plans to raise $10,000 in 90 days by competing in an additional 5 events between now and June, as well as the Nation’s Triathlon® in September.  Scott notes:  “I urge everyone to participate in a race, get the word out on the Semper Fi Fund in order to support the more than 40,000 service men and women who have been injured in support of America 's efforts in the War.  Every day, I compete to remember how incredibly lucky we are to live in America where we are free to participate.”

               During last year’s race, Team Semper Fi won the top spot in the Veteran Teams 

competition with Denis Oliverio and Eric Fraiser finishing in 3:14:45.  In the individual military

 competition, the top three placers were Dan Lasko of Bethlehem , PA in 3rd place with a time of 3:07:24; Martin Word of Frederick , Maryland with a time of 3:02:22; and Frank Delgado of Arlington , Virginia with a time of 2:46:46.