Triathlete Monica West, of Saginaw, Mich., right, sings the U.S. national anthem before the event begins. Holding the flag is Cody Crowther of Sylvania.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Spectators gather to watch the start of the event from an area overlooking the quarry.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Jessica Dancik of Sylvania and more than 200 other women get ready for the fist portion of the triahlon at the quarry.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Swimmers race through Centennial Quarry in the first event, the 400 meter swim, of the triathlon.
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Helmet, sneakers and other equipment wait by a participant's bike while she swims.
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Melinda Rakesmith of Toledo takes her bike out of the bike area to begin the 11 mile cycling section of the triathlon.
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Mary Lonz of Norwalk, left, had no air in her tire as soon as she started, so Bike Works' John Drake puts in a new tube in hopes that that would fix it.
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Joyce Donaldson, of Elite Endeavors of Sylvania, founder of the race and competitive triathlete until a near-fatal accident, says the unique design of the race was created to give women a less-stressful first-time triathlon.
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Sixty-four-year-old Anne Andrus of Ann Arbor, Mich. sets out for the 11 mile bike ride after the 400 meter swim in the triathlon.
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Tayler Walker, 12, left, and her sister, Taney High, 15, right, wait on their mom, Tressa Johnson, who is participating in her first triathlon. "It's pretty cool. My mom likes doing things like this," Taney said.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Riders mount their bikes for the 11-mile ride.
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Tracy Evans of Perrysburg starts out on the 11-mile bike ride portion of the triathlon.
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A rider comes in after the 11-mile ride, with a 3.1 mile run ahead of her.
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Returned timing devices represent those athletes who have finished the event.
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Sheri Branum of Milan, Ohio, left, and Melissa Weisner of Sylvania congratulate each other on finishing the triathlon.
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Sheri Branum of Milan, Ohio, left, Jim Donaldson, of Elite Endeavors, and Melissa Weisner of Sylvania pose for a quick photo near the finish line after the two women completed the triathlon.
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