October 2001 Table of Contents

The 8th Annual Great Abaco Triathlon took place on 1st September with over 120 athletes competing, mostly from the United States. Wonderful hospitality was provided by Abaco businesses but the hospitality did not go all the way: a Bahamian won the top prize.

Otto Bell of Freeport, last year's winner, came out of the water sitting on the shoulders of the leaders, made up a little ground in the bike section, and ran away with the run. The half mile swim, 15 mile cycle section and 3.6 mile run was demanding but Otto saw it through - winning comfortably in the end. Here in The Bahamas we celebrate our pure athletes; perhaps we should recognise Otto Bell as national treasure. He beat an impressive field of dedicated triathlon athletes and established Abaco as a somewhat ungrateful host. You come here and we beat you? Ah, well...

It was a regular day in paradise when the activity got under way. Pleas went out for someone to sing the Bahamian and US national anthems. No problem with the Bahamian side of things, wonderfully rendered, but nobody could be found to sing the Star Spangled Banner.

There were several Abaco athletes competing, most notably Dale Hill who is a regular winner in his classification. A relay team from the Abaco Central High School participated but the lead off swimmer, Vanessa McPhee, found herself wallowing in whitewater and wisely decided to retire. (Vanessa's father, Rev Samuel McPhee, passed away two weeks later. See Passings...) The rest of the team, Sherell Carey (bicycle) and MacQuell Spencer (run) showed great spirit by completing their stages with no hope of victory. With great kids like these, The Bahamas does not have to worry about the future. winner,

October 2001 Table of Contents