By Staff
NILES – Even vandals cannot stop the The Niles Triathlon, "Sponsored by the Riverfront Optimist Club".
Since the 1970s, a triathlon has been held at Barron Lake the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.
The annual triathlon draws participants from all over the area and the United States.
Following last year's event, it was discovered that the race trailer and all of the triathlon equipment was stolen.
The triathlon was nearly canceled, but thanks to the efforts of the River Front Optimist Club and a triathlete group called Triple Threat, the event will go on as planned.
This year's triathlon, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 1, will feature an International Distance (1.5k swim / 40k bike / 10k run Individual and Relay Teams) and a Super Sprint, formerly a 5K (200-meter swim /10k bike /2.5k run).
Cost for the triathlon is $65 per person. Cost for the Super Sprint is $45.
Entry forms are available on the web at www.triniles.com.
The triathlon is a fundraiser for the River Front Optimist Club. Some of the proceeds will be shared by the Boy Scouts and the Niles band. Proceeds will also help fund Optimist youth activities.
The two groups are in need of volunteers to help make the triathlon a success once again.
If you would like to volunteer, contact Liz Capron at 684-5140.
To donate money to the triathlon, mail a check to the River Front Optimist Club, P.O. Box 412, Niles, MI 49120.
Area residents are also being asked to make signs to help cheer on the athletes as they participate in the event.
There will be a spaghetti dinner at the Barron Lake Fire Department on Friday, Aug. 31. The dinner will be sponsored by the Order of the Eastern Star. Tickets will be available at the door. The dinner is free to all registered competitors.
If you would like to volunteer, contact Liz Capron at 684-5140 or Tom Majerek at (269) 845-9815. You may also contact the Niles-Buchanan YMCA at 683-1552.