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GREENWICH, Conn. Greenwichs Reenie Parker did not just win her age group at Sundays Mossman Park City Triathlon in Bridgeport. Parker could have slept in or taken a lunch break and still finished first.
Parker completed the Olympic distance event in 2:26:40, and was 29:14 ahead of Margaret Deluca of Waccabuc, N.Y., in the 50-54 age group. She was the seventh woman overall, and third among women from Connecticut.
Of the seven women who finished ahead of Parker, six were under the age of 24. The women from Connecticut who outdistanced her were 21 and 26. The race included many collegiate athletes. Other participants were looking to earn a spot on Connecticuts Best of the U.S. team, which goes to the top three women from the state. Parker earned one of the spots to represent Connecticut in a race next June against top triathletes from other states.
It was an interesting race, Parker said. I raced last week in Vermont, and there were three- and four-foot swells in the water. When I dove in for this race, it was the same thing. Between the waves and the goggles, I couldnt see anything at all. It was hard to get around the buoys.
Parkers Mossman finish is more remarkable given that she was coming off the race in Vermont, the U.S. age group championships. Parker finished 14th in her division in the Olympic distance event, earning a berth to represent the United States at next years International Triathlon Union world championships in London. She will race in London next year on the same course that was used in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
That was my primary objective this summer, Parker said. I wanted to get top 18 to get to worlds. I want to do better than 18th in the worlds. I have to do a better job on the run. I have to get down to seven-minute miles. The girls that are winning are in the six- and seven-minute per mile range.
Parker finished second in her age group in the Pat Griskus Olympic distance triathlon and first in the Ridgefield Sprint Triathlon. Its been a pretty good summer, Parker said. I just wanted to really to get to worlds. Im happy I achieved that.
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