With Hurricane Dorian moving up the coast, organizers monitored the weather closely in the days leading up to the race. Several New England triathlons were cancelled over the weekend but with the swim taking place in the protected waters of Casco Bay, the organizers remained optimistic.
“We were tracking the storm closely and of course, we were ready to cancel the swim and the race entirely if safety was an issue,” said Michael O’Neil, president of the Lobsterman Triathlon. “All along, we believed the storm would track offshore, which it did. Knowing our swim was taking place in a protected bay, we were optimistic that we would be able to hold the full race. It turned out to be a great day!”
Although 900 people from 6 countries and 31 states registered for the race, the weather deterred some and only 600 athletes competed in the Lobsterman Triathlon. The USA Triathlon-sanctioned event took place at Winslow Park in Freeport, Maine. The race is known across the country for its beautiful course and one-of-a-kind authentic Maine lobster bake. Athletes competed in the Olympic Distance event, completing a slightly shortened 0.8 mile swim in Casco Bay, a 24.7 mile bike and a 6.2 mile run before partaking in a lobster bake at the completion of the race.
Erik Lundgren of Goreham, Maine, won the men’s overall title and Australian Katie Kyme won top female athlete honors at the 16th Annual Lobsterman Triathlon in Freeport, Maine on Saturday, September 7, 2019.
Lundgren finished with a time of 2:03:00, 36 seconds faster than Julius Shephard of West Point, New York, and 1:01 ahead of third place Tommaso Manetti of Boston, Massachusetts.
In the women’s race, Kyme finished in 2:13:33 with a 6:29 margin of victory over Leah Narkevic of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania and 6:59 ahead of 3rd place Browen Price-Dierksen of Brookline, Massachusetts.
The Lobsterman Triathlon is designated as an official event on the Northeast Collegiate Triathlon Conference schedule. The Conference winner for the event was the Army Triathlon Team, followed by 2nd place Northeastern University and the University of Connecticut in 3rd.
Over 400 people enjoyed an authentic wood-fire and seaweed cooked Maine Lobster bake at the after party sponsored by Shiner beer.
Eighteen of 20 photographs courtesy of Lobsterman Triathlon
Participants of all sizes gather to cheer the athletes on.
The pre-race sunset at Winslow Memorial Park was beautiful but rain from Dorian was predicted overnight.
With the rain holding off, athletes prepare to enter the water.
A competitor watches with focus as she waits for her start wave.
Race director Michael O'Neil gives the pre-race announcements.
A wave starts the swim through cool and calm waters, despite weather forecasts.
A men’s heat starts their 1.5 kilometer swim.
Photo credit Kevin Morris
The first male is out of the water and headed up the beach.
The top females follow closely behind.
One of the top females speeds past cow pastures on the bike course.
Flowers dot the landscape all over the course, and showcase Maine's summer beauty.
A little water remains on the road, but Dorian has decided to not drop any rain during the race.
Cyclists are still making their way back into transition in droves.
A cyclist passes the Wealden Farm Stand on the bike course.
Runners fight their way through the last mile of the Olympic run course.
The top collegiate athletes are on the run, and the cows can't be bothered to keep score.
