Athlete of the Month

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 These following athletes have demonstrated greatness on the course, during their training, or just throughout life in general. Think you or someone you know should join them in the Nautica NYC Triathlon Pantheon of Athletes? Email us and tell us why.

 

 Amy Hawthorne

Amy Hawthorne aotw

August 2011 

Amy Hawthorne crossing the finish line with son Max in last year’s NYC Triathlon. Amy started Paul’s Posse in honor of her husband who passed from the rare disease Amyloidosis. She and her 50+ friends raised over $25,000 this year!  You go girl!

Jenna Parker   

Jenna Parker aotw 

August 2011

When not summering at the Jersey shore, 24 year old Jenna Parker is winning triathlons. She will be racing for the Harvard Crimson in the NYC Tri—which her brother Jared won in 2005.

 

 Kenia Castellanos

Kenia Castellanos aotw

 July 2011

30 year old Queens native Kenia Castellanos gets up at 3 am to train in Manhattan before going to teach in the Bronx! This Latina with a PhD in psychology is doing her first NYC Tri this year with Asphalt Green Tri Club. Do triathletes ever sleep?

 

Fiona Bollag 

Fiona Bollag aotw

 July 2011

Deaf since birth, 28-year-old Fiona Bollag is happily racing this summer for Team One Family for whom she raised $12,500 last year.  Born in Switzerland, Fiona is a model, author, and now a fearsome triathlete.

Pia Levine

Pia Levine 

July 2011

Two days before Pia Levine finished the Jerusalem Marathon a bus she riding on was blown up by terrorists.  She survived, went on to finish the Marathon, and is back for the NYC Triathlon with Team One Family.

Aaron Scheidies

Aaron Scheidies 

July 2011

29 year old blind world champion Aaron Scheidies goes for his 8th national title in New York at the Accenture Paratriathlon Championship.  Scheidies, also a standout in the Jamaica Underwear Run, is seen here with guide Todd Wiley. 

 Liz Claman

Liz Claman AotW

July 2011

Fox Business Network anchor Liz Claman is back for her third NYC Triathlon.  The Emmy award winning anchor and author joins a big NewsCorp contingent taking their annual plunge in the Hudson.

 

 David Nazaroff

David Nazaroff

 

June 2011

Dave Nazaroff is an inspiration to all!  His healthy transformation started two years ago when he began doing triathlons.  Dave says it’s never too late to get fit and will continue his journey with us this August in NYC!

 

 

 Allan Stewart

Allan Stewart

 

 

May 2011

Heart surgeon Allan Stewart saved a life, found a wife, and the rest is history.  Can you top this?  Click here to read his story.

 

 

Mitch Perl 

Mitch Perl

 

 

April 2011 

Running in his 5th NYC Triathlon, Westchester’s Mitch Perl celebrates his 2010 finish with his 12 year old daughter Mika. Mitch will be racing this summer to raise money for Foundation Fighting Blindness

Jean Palmieri & Rich Donnelly 

Jean P and Rich D

 

March 2011

Going for 7!

Jean Palmieri and husband Rich Donnelly gear up for their 7th NYC Triathlon after a brisk bike in Tuxedo Park.

 

 

Nate McGrory

 Nate McGrory

 

 

 February 2011

2011 marks high school senior Nate McGrory's 4th NYC Triathlon.  Nate's family completed the 2008 Triathlon in support of his sister who is 5 years cancer free!  

 

 Philip Bergman

Philip Bergman

 

 

January 2011

Philip Bergman celebrates his 11th NYC Triathlon and his 100th Triathlon overall when he takes the Hudson River plunge in August! 

 

Howie Mann

howie


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






December 2010


Howie Mann dropped 35 pounds for his first NYC Triathlon. The 55 year-old Long Island native is doing this year’s race with his son and daughter-in-law.
It’s a family affair!

Katie Sweeney


katie







November 2010


Katie Sweeney beat asthma to finish the NYCTRI while racing for her autistic son, Dusty.
Go, Mom, go!


Michael Matonis


michael





October 2010


Michael Matonis had already picked up his NYC Tri race packet
when he got the call that his wife, Nicole, had gone into labor
with the couple's first child. Michael didn't get to race in 2010 but did make
it home to Boston to witness the birth of Ian Richard Matonis.
Michael will be on the starting barge next year and Ian is already slated for an appearance in 2028!


Doug
Jossem

doug






September 2010


Having lost both his parents to cancer, 31 year old Doug Jossem raised over $30,000 for Team in Training. Doug recruited 39 fellow Yahoo! employees to race who collectively raised $200,000+. Doug will be racing his 6th NYC Triathlon in 2011.



Jack Chen and Steve Zink


Jack



August 2010


The rear derailer broke on the bike of blind athlete Jack Chen and his guide Steve Zink mid-ride. Unable to repair it, they ran, coasted, and pushed the bike 10 miles to transition with socked feet. The pair ended with finisher's medals and torn socks to remember the experience.
Way to persevere Jack and Steve!

Elianna Sable

elianna








July 2010


Elianna Sable broke her wrist during the bike but finished the Triathlon. One titanium plate and nine screws later, Elianna is fine. She helped Team One Family raise nearly $200,000!
 
 Lynne Tapper

 LynneTapper

May 2010

To celebrate the 10th NYC Triathlon Lynne Tapper is attempting a five mile open water swim. Pictured above, a happy but water logged Lynne completed a 3 mile open water swim in September 2009. You go girl!


Caroline Gaynor

February 2010

 

 

Colder than the Hudson! Caroline Gaynor, NYCTRI elite finisher and guide for blind triathletes joined 87 other brave souls in a New Year's ritual. Does your mother know?

Todd Starnes


ToddStarnesBefore

 Before

 

ToddStarnesAfter

After

 



January 2010

 

 

This July will mark the 5-year anniversary of Todd having open heart surgery. Since receiving an aortic heart transplant, Todd has lost over 150 pounds and run the NYC Marathon. This summer he takes on the Nautica NYC Tri. Congratulations, Todd. Good luck and keep up the good work! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coleman Rudolph

 Coleman Rudolph

 

December 2009

Don’t mess with this guy!  Coleman Rudolph, the former New York Jets and Giants linebacker, and former NCAA All American at Georgia Tech is racing with the Clydesdale’s this summer.  Down from his playing weight of 270, he’s now a svelte 210.

 

 

 

 


Kellie Faircloth & Chris Hawkins

 

 

October 2009

Kellie Faircloth and Chris Hawkins celebrated the 9th Nautica NYC Triathlon by getting engaged.  They'll celebrate the 10th anniversary race by getting married July 31!  

 

 


Brian Duffy
 



September 2009

After topping the Elite Amateurs podium at the Nautica NYC Tri, Brian went on to finish with the fastest overall time at the Nation's Triathlon in Washington, DC. Congratulations Brian!

Photo courtesy Jake Pritchard.

 




Aaron Schiedies
 
AaronSchiediesAOM


May 2009

Blind world champ Aaron Schiedies returns for his 5th Nautica NYC Triathlon. The 26-year old Para hope to break his own world record of 1:58 on the mean streets of the Big Apple. Not enough? Schiedies holds the fastest Ironman and 70.3 time for a blind athlete. Never one to shy from a camera, Aaron is also a perennial favorite in the Underwear Run.




Ismael Rodriguez
 
IsmaelRodriguezAOM


April 2009

Having caught the NYC Tri bug last year, Ismael Rodriguez will be back in 2009 for another go at it. Although he did test positive for neoprene in '09, I-Rod swears that everything underneath his wetsuit is all natural.




Dale Morella
 
DaleAoM


March 2009

He may think of himself as Joe the Triathlete, but Dale Morella is far from ordinary. In addition to racing for personal satisfaction, Dale is doing the NYC Tri to help benefit Operation Rebound, which helps support the rehabilitation of injured troops. That's a cause we can all get behind--check them out!


The McGrory Family
 
McGrory2


March 2009

What a family! Father Ken and mother Barbara ahve each completed multiple NYC Triathlons. In 2008, the couple was joined by their two children, Marie, a Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, and Nate, the youngest competitor in the history of the NYC Tri. Ken and Nate will be back for more in '09.



Robbie Holuba
 
Robbie Holuba


February 2009

Not only did Robbie run a 3:30 at the ING New York City Marathon, he also kicked a successful 35-yard field goal during the Nokia Sugar Bowl's Ultimate Challenge. The former Princeton linebacker will be adding the Nautica NYC Tri to his already impressive athletic resume this July!


Andy Potts
 
PottsAoM


January 2009

3rd place NYC Tri professional Andy Potts finished 8th at the Ironman Championships in Kona with a 2:52 marathon split; his first marathon.  A week earlier he finished 2nd in the Toyota US Open.  



Kelly Bruno
 
Kelly Bruno


December 2008

As if Kelly Bruno wasn't busy enough in 2008 (winning the Accenture PC National Championships and serving as a ball girl at the U.S. Open), the 24-year old capped off her season by setting a personal best and winning her age group at the Beach2Battleship Ironman in North Carolina! November's Athlete of the Month will be back in NYC this July to defend her title. 



Greg Bennett
 
GB in Dallas 2008


November 2008

It's two years and two Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Championships for Greg Bennett. After winning New York for his third time in 2009, Bennett captured the Toyota Cup at the U.S. Open Triathlon in Dallas, TX. We'll see you in 2009 Greg!




Emma Snowsill
 
 
EmmaS


October 2008

Olympic gold medalist and two-time Nautica NYC Tri champ Emma Snowsill. With the 2008 Olympic Games in her rear-view mirror, here's hoping Emma will be back in NYC in 2009 to compete for title number 3!

 

 

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