CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. -- Yonkers native Gina Pauline returned home to the Westchester area Sunday to challenge her first Toughman triathlon event and surpassed her own expectations by finishing seventh overall among women in the 5th Annual Toughman competition at Croton Point Park.
"It was an amazing event," said Pauline, a former high school swimmer while a student at Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale. "It was more challenging than I imagined, but beautiful views, great volunteers and well organized. I finished seventh overall for the women and second in my age group."
Pauline, who grew up in Yonkers as a swimmer with the Condors Swim Club, Gotham Aqua Kings and Ardsley Swim Club, graduated Maria Regina High School and went on to swim at Binghamton University. Now an assistant professor of sport management at the David Falk School at Syracuse University, she has been doing triathlons for two years.
The local Toughman event began five years ago and has grown each fall. Toughman is a half-triathlon that includes a 1-mile Hudson River swim, 56-mile Croton-area bike race and 13.1-mile run through Westchester.
Pauline covered the swim in 20 minutes and 14 seconds, the bike race in 2:55.48 and the half marathon in 1:58.45 for a total time of 5:18.19, including time between events.
"I got to visit with my family and I made a few new friends which was great," Pauline said. " The conditions were perfect for racing. I could not have asked for a better day."
Pauline joined nearly 2,000 triathletes of all ages who participated in the Toughman, ToughTeen and ToughKids divisions over the two-day event Saturday and Sunday.
Check out the event's website for more information and results on the Toughman races.
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