The 22nd Annual Japanese and American Goodwill Sprint Triathlon was held here Sunday.
Approximately 284 Japanese and 65 American athletes gathered at the marina to kick off what would end up being an all-morning event.
The competitors were divided into categories determined by age, gender and by team or individual efforts.
Miki Takuya was the men’s overall winner with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 37 seconds, and the women’s overall winner was Kishida Yuko.
A nice sea breeze for spectators made an awful current for the competitors to swim against.
“Swimming was intense. It was like a fight,” said Dustin Ruiz, a competitor in Sunday’s competition. “You got hit from all directions.”
Once participants finished a 1.2K swim they had to run to their bikes, which were staged on top of the dock.
Upon arriving at their bikes, competitors immediately made what preparations they needed to start the cycling portion of the competition.
“The transition from swimming to biking was the hardest part,” said Ruiz.
Out of all the participants competing, there was one that really left a lasting memory. The standout star was Masafumi Yasui, an amputee who completed the entire race with one leg.
“It showed the power and will of one man’s determination to complete a triathlon, despite having a serious handicap,” said Daniel Negrete, a competitor in Sunday’s competition.“He was a source of inspiration and earned everyone’s respect.”
Respect was one trait which all competitors carried on their shoulders Sunday. All competitors helped one another by simply extending common courtesies and showing good sportsmanship.
“The best part of competing definitely was the camaraderie that everyone gets from being together and competing side by side,” said Jacquelyn White, a competitor in Sunday’s competition.
Upon completion of the competition, participants were given a certificate with their name and run time and also were given a free lunch provided by Marine Corps Community Services.
“It was an amazing experience,” said White. “I really can’t describe the feeling it gives, but it is an overflowing sense of accomplishment.”
For additional information about upcoming competitions, call the MCCS Semper Fit division at 253-5225.
Editor’s note: Finishing times for competitors other than the first participant to complete the triathalon were unavailable at the time of publication.