Michigan Athlete Sets Record in Covenant Point Triathlon

IRON RIVER, MI (August 9, 2005) - Brian Carlson, a member of United Evangelical Covenant Church in Ishpeming, Michigan, beat out four previous winners and set a new record to capture first place at Covenant Point Bible Camp's benefit triathlon.

Carlson's time of 2:10:56 bested the second-place finishing time of 2:19:33, held by last year's champion and his wife, Rima, who is the event's first-ever (and still only) female winner. This year marked the seventh annual competition at the camp.

Eight individual competitors and seven teams participated in a half-mile swim, 25-mile bike race and 10K run. Participants in the triathlon and a concurrent 10K fitness walk raised $10,000 for the camp's ministries to special needs campers. Covenant Point has been systematically improving building entrances, restrooms and the camp's grounds to accommodate handicapped campers and guests. Funds raised also provide for "shadow" aides who assist special needs campers during camp programs.

Carlson's winning time bested the previous record of 2:12:34, set by Erik Christenson in 1999, at the first triathlon. The individual third placer finisher in this year's event was Chris Sanderson of Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, with a time of 2:15:21.

The first-place team of Colby Mecher, Nick Bruckner and Ben Bruckner, all current or former Covenant Point staff, and all from Chicago, finished with a time of 2:10:58. The second-place team of John Hjelm (Libertyville, Illinois), John Fredrickson (Milwaukee) and Don Hodgkinson (Chicago) finished with a time of 2:14:52.

Nick Bruckner, Hodgkinson and Rich Lofgren, who finished seventh in the individual competition, are all previous individual winners. Next year's event will be held on August 6. For more information on the event or the camp and its ministries, call camp staff at 906-265-2117.

Editor's note: pictured in the accompanying photo (from left) are Brian Carlson, Rima Carlson, Nick Bruckner, Rich Lofgren, and Don Hodgkinson. Beth Fredrickson is editor of the Central Conference newsletter.

Printable version of this page.