Matt McMillan and Malia Gill nabbed top honors Saturday morning in the 44th Huntsville Sprint Tri at Brahan Spring Park in Huntsville.
McMillan, of Owens Cross Roads, was first overall in 40:24. Gill, of Madison, was seventh overall in 45:52.
The event is put on by the Team Rocket Tri Club of Huntsville and presented by Edward Jones. Almost 320 athletes finished. Other sponsors include Fleet Feet, Bicycle Cove, Shortstop Screen Printing, HealthSource Chiropractice of Huntsville and We Run Race Photos.
It started with a 400-meter swim in the Huntsville Aquatics Center 25-meter pool, eight laps total. Then it was through transition for a 7-mile bike ride on Drake Avenue, Leeman Ferry Road and around back to the complex. From the second transition, athletes finished with a 3-mile run. It took them along the sidewalk on Drake Avenue, around Brahan Spring lake, along the greenway to Johnson Road and back to the complex.
Proceeds benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The Team Rocket Tri Club has donated more than $30,000 to the foundation.
The club also had a wonderful tribute to the late David Stankard, 69, a longtime and enthusiastic club member from Huntsville. Stankard died July 9 after a fight with pancreatic cancer. Athletes could see the tribute while going into the transition zone, with Stankard’s bike, shoes, other gear and the No. 1 bib on display.
Top Finishers
McMillan put together times of 5:45 for the swim, 15:40 for the ride and 17:20 on the run, along with smooth transitions of 43 and 45 seconds. He was faster in the first transition and ride than Krichev, who won the event in 2023. Krichev had a quicker second transition, by 12 seconds, but McMillan was faster by 62 seconds in the 3-mile run.
Gill had times of 6:27 for the swim, 18:25 on the bike and 19:46 on the run, with transitions of 43 and 31 seconds.
Paul Carlson won the Masters division (13th, 49:34) and Alicia Krichev won the women’s Masters (30th, 52:19).
Chris Sucic claimed the Grand Masters title (20th, 51:12). Anna Underwood won the women’s Grand Masters (81st, 58:38).
Team PattyASMR won the mixed relay division in 40:08.
See all of the results for the 44th Huntsville Sprint Tri here.
PHOTOS — See all the swim, bike, run and general photo galleries from We Run Huntsville here.
MAIN PHOTO: Matt McMillan of Owens Cross Roads wins the 44th Huntsville Sprint Tri on Saturday at Brahan Spring Park in Huntsville. He finished in 40:24, winning by more than a minute. (Photo: Alan Clemons/TVO)
