Reading 19
Orlando Triathlon stirs Baldwin Park
By Marty Gaal
Special to the Sentinel
June 24, 2005
Anchorwoman Wendy Chioji will be among the nearly 200 athletes diving into Lake Baldwin for the
inaugural Orlando Triathlon and Duathlon at Baldwin Park on Sunday.
And she couldn't be happier.
"I love everything about triathlon," said Chioji, who works at NBC (WESH-Ch. 2) and has been competing
in running, cycling and triathlon events for several years. "I really enjoy the training -- it is social for
me as well -- since so many of my good friends are also triathletes. But my competitive sports career
began with adventure racing, where hilarious things tend to happen."
In 2003, she rode with Lance Armstrong in the Tour of Hope, a cross-country ride that raised
awareness and funds for cancer research. Chioji, who finished the EagleMan Half Ironman in Cambridge,
Md., on June 12, was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy in 2001.
Jennifer Harasz of Tampa, Alyssa Burkert of Winter Garden and Allison Palmer of Oviedo are the
prerace favorites on the women's side for the Baldwin Park event. Harasz, 35, has been competing in
triathlons for several years, while Palmer, 19, runs cross country for UCF.
Burkert, 13, already has been a top contender in several triathlons this season. She took first overall
at the second Moss Park Triathlon on May 22.
"I'm hoping to win this weekend, but I'm always happy if I can beat my stepdad [Bob Stevens] as well,"
Burkert said.
The men's race is expected to be very close. Kiko Cintron of Tallahassee should give Dave Damrath of
Maitland and Sean Black of Melbourne a challenging race. Damrath was one of the top amateurs at the
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco two weeks ago, while Black took second overall at a
triathlon in Jacksonville the same weekend.
Cintron, 33 and a perennial top contender who grew up in Tampa, is preparing for the Olympic-distance
Chattanooga (Tenn.) triathlon on July 17. He ran track and cross country at Florida State in the early
1990s.
"To avoid some of my usual late-season staleness, I just took a two-week break," Cintron said. "I'll be
doing my best on Sunday to help get ready for Tennessee."
The triathlon starts with a quarter-mile swim, followed by a 12-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. The
Baldwin Park duathlon consists of a 2-mile run, 12-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run.
Both races start at 7:30 a.m. at New Broad Street.