V.I. Triathlon Federation’s Beauty & The Beast Holds Its 5th Running in Cramer’s Park

Besides a little chop in the sea, yesterday’s weather was perfect for a race. The 5th running of the Beauty & The Beast took place at Cramer’s Park. Although the weather was nice, the climb up the “Beast of the East” (aka Point Udall) is never easy. The water/aid stations were planted so that the runners in the Olympic-distance triathlon could pass them eight times. The volunteers did a great job keeping everyone upright and moving.

Fresh off his 1st place finish in the 1-mile race in the Coral Reef Swim, relay swimmer Daryan Maynard came out first again in the field of Olympic-distance triathletes and relay teams. He finished the 1.4K swim in 17:55. His sister, Diella, was the second to finish, followed by their swim coach Scott Fortier. Alex Betancourt was the first individual triathlete, and Esther Ellis was the first female individual triathlete.

With Maynard’s great lead, the cyclist for his relay team, James Bates, was able to hold the first-place position during his 24.5-mile bike ride. The course from Cramer’s Park to Cane Garden and back along the South Shore/Southside Road is well known by most cyclists, so many rode comfortably and confidently regardless of the road conditions.

Cyclist David Morales moved his relay team into second place from the swim-to-bike handoff in third position. Stephen Swanton soon took the lead from Betancourt on the bike in the individual race. Robin Seila pedaled her way from 5th to 1st on the bike, posting the second-fastest ride of the morning. (Her husband, Swanton, had the fastest bike split).