Nathaniel Pierce kicked of the Team Rocket Tri Club season Saturday morning in his usual spot, atop the podium with the overall win at the Heel & Crank duathlon.
Pierce, 40, of Huntsville, sped to the win in 59:40, combining times of 18:10 in the 3-mile run, 29:14 in the 11-mile bike, and 11:08 in the final 2-mile run. His transitions were 34 and 32 seconds. Pierce has won the Heel & Crank title four straight years, and was second in 2022.
Alyssa Winja of Huntsville won the women’s title and was 13th overall. She had times of 21:17, 36:17 and 13:57. It is her first Heel & Crank championship. Cynthia Mitchell of Athens won in 2024-25, but this year took over as race director. Jamie Schutzbach of Madison won the non-binary division, finishing 50th in 1:22:55. Schutzbach had times of 26:26, 36:10 and 18:01.
Smooth Day
Saturday’s event went off without a hitch, starting at 7 a.m. at Adtran in Cummings Research Park. The first 5K was put on by Fleet Feet in conjunction with Heel & Crank, and won by Khalil Dock in 18:02. Claire Deaton was fourth and won the women’s title, in 20:45. All runners started at Adtran, ran out to the McMillan Park DNA Double Helix Trail and then back.
Heel & Crankers moved across the timing mat into the transition area just before the Big Run finishers crossed their line. From there, they donned helmets, clipped on shoes and took their bikes for three loops around Explorer Boulevard. That totaled about 11 miles. A 2-mile run was the final event.
Roads were closed, thanks to Huntsville Police Department assistance, providing safe and smooth riding on the loops. The UCI Para-cycling Road World Championship here in September will use part of the course for its events. Heel & Crank was the first event of seven in the TRTC season. Next is the Pesky Piranha youth triathlon on June 20.
Find all of the results here, and photos by We Run Race Photos here.
Heel & Crank race director Cynthia Mitchell announces age group awards after Saturday’s event in Huntsville in Cummings Research Park. (Photo: TVO/Alan Clemons)
