Prior Lake, Minnesota – Dakotah! Sport and Fitness hosted its eleventh indoor triathlon on April 13 with 44 participants. The top three male finishers were from Burnsville and Prior Lake, and the top three female finishers were from Cologne, Shakopee, and Chaska.

Since the event was held indoors, the competition was structured differently than a typical triathlon. The events were timed, and total distances were calculated. Participants were judged on their total adjusted time based upon the farthest distance completed in the swim, bike, and run, or “pace” time. Each participant completed a 7-minute swim, a 30-minute bike, and a 20-minute run. The field of 44 participants was divided into heats of up to six members, which rotated through the three events, allowing members with any level of fitness to participate.

“We use the ‘pace’ system based on the farthest distance completed in each event to level the playing field, so that all competitors have to do their best in each event,” explained Race Director Renee Engeman, Assistant Director of Dakotah! Sport and Fitness.

Winners

Tad Dunsworth, 49, of Burnsville was the overall winner, finishing with a total of 58.9926 minutes. Tad is also the Director of Dakotah! Sport and Fitness. Joe Eder, 33, of Prior Lake, came in second with a time of 59.31773 minutes. Mike Blair, 43, of Prior Lake, came in third for the men with a time of 59.39198. Pace for the men was .27 miles in the swim, 12.5 miles for the bike, and 2.913 miles for the run.

Because of the pace system, Sarah Foley, 42, of Cologne, finished first among the women with a total time of 57 minutes. Sarah is also a Dakotah! Sport and Fitness group fitness instructor and a nationally ranked triathlete. Annie Melek, 41, of Shakopee, came in second for the women with a total time of 62.32747. Trisha Caton, 29, of Chaska, came in third for the women with a total time of 63.67193. Pace for the women was .26 miles in the swim, 11.5 miles for the bike, and 2.87 miles for the run.

A complete list of competitors and their times is available at www.dakotahsport.com. A photo gallery is available at www.facebook.com/dakotahsport.

Summer triathlon

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, along with the City of Prior Lake, will sponsor the Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Lakefront Days Triathlon on Saturday, August 3, in Prior Lake. Details may be found at www.dakotahsport.com.

About Dakotah!

The area’s premier fitness facility, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness offers a vast array of amenities with something for everyone in its 305,331-square-foot facility. Amenities include an indoor track, aquatic center, indoor ice arenas, a double gymnasium, a cardio studio, a cycling studio, group fitness classes, free weights, circuit training equipment, and much more.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the earth, and good employer, the SMSC is committed to community partnerships, charitable donations, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. The SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. Out of a Dakota tradition to help others, the SMSC has also donated more than $262 million to organizations and causes and paid more than $7.6 million for shared local road projects since 1996, in addition to funding its own infrastructure and contributing generously to regional governments and infrastructure.