Cy-Man 2011 – ‘Clones Rule!

by Ron Adkins, Heart of America Triathlon News

Spirits ran high for the 2011 Cy-Man Tri Sprint.

It was difficult though, to pin down the source of the elation. It could have been that the weather and course conditions were again, outstanding. Or it could have been that, deep in Iowa State country, the dozens of racers sporting cardinal and gold were still pumped from the Cyclone football team's dramatic win the day before.

Click to view slideshow.Whatever the reason, race director Alex Schenck declared it a great day to be a Cycline and a triathlete. The thermostat hovered near 85, and swimmers enjoyed 71-degree Big Creek Lake water, despite a recent algae bloom that turned many athlete's legs an interesting shade of green.

Racer Kevin Prendergast conducted a water's edge prayer for the fallen of 9/11 and Schenck lead the assembled in a moment's silence to pay honor of those who fell on that day.

Joyce has the last laugh.

Joyce Bricker of Stratford, Iowa, has raced in every Cy-Man so far — that's nine tris and two more when it was a duathon.

'The first time I wanted to do a tri,' Joyce said, 'a co-worker laughed so hard he spit Pepsi out his nose.' With a big grin of her own, she proudly added, 'He's quit laughing now.'

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