Triathletes From Across the Nation Mark 9-11 Anniversary with Moment of Silence and Tribute to the Victims

of 9-11 During 6th Annual Nations Triathlon Race Results Are Released for Top Male and Female and Challenge Races WASHINGTON, DC -- The 6th Annual Nations TriathlonTM To Benet the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society took place today in the nations capital, on the 10th anniversary of 9-11, and featured a moment of silence and tribute messages for the victims of the terrorist attacks. Competitors from across the nation, including active duty service members and rst responders joined a eld of more than 4500 athletes who competed in the International distance triathlon event. Weather conditions which caused ooding and fast-moving currents, precipitated the cancellation of the swim leg; however, competitors took part in the 40K bike and 10K run, competing in the shadow of our most treasured national monuments and memorials, including the newly opened Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. With athletes represented from 1017 cities, 48 states and 7 different countries, the Nations Triathlon maintained its reputation of Americas most popular triathlon event, having set a new Guinness Book of World Records record for the largest International Distance Triathlon Event in the U.S. in 2010. With a start time of 7:10am, the rst competitor crossed the nish line in just over an hour and a half, joining their family and friends at the JetBlue Airways Finish Festival. First among the elite males was Danilo Palmuccii, age 48 from Rome, Italy with a time of 1:33:06. First among elite women was Kathleen Hursey, age 22 from Hampstead, MD with a time of 1:44:52. The Washington, DC Metropolitan region was well-represented in the race, with DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown competing in his rst international distance triathlon (he posted a time of 2:10:24). The DC Cup to the fastest male and female competitors from the District of Columbia was presented to Wylie Belasik, age 27 with a time of 1:34:25. Fastest female was four-time winner Hilary Cairns, age 41, with a time of 1:45:33. In addition to the general race, there were ve races-within-a-race featuring federal, military, military academy, rst responder and Tri Club challenges. The CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Challenge featured more than 300 competitors from Capitol Hill and the federal government. Top male and female winners were Jimmy Sosinski, age 29, with the Department of Defense. He posted a time of 1:38:21. The top woman in the CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Challenge was Elissa Jensen, age 34 from the U.S. Agency for International Development with a time of 1:56:11. The Gryphon Technologies Military Challenge featured nearly 600 competitors drawn from active duty and veteran service members. David Steele, age 39, from the Marine Corps came in rst with a time of 1:36:07. The female winner was Emily Shin, age 29, from the Army won with a time of 1:52:16. The Commander-In-Chief Challenge featured cadets from the United States Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Military Academy Army. Romedy Murr, age 21 from West Point took the top spot with a time of 1:32:42. Among women, Roxanne Wegman, age 24, also from West Point came rst with a time of 1:45:21. This was the rst year of the First Responders Challenge, which attracted more than 100 re ghters, police ofcers and emergency personnel, many competing in honor of a lost colleague. Top male winner was Justin Branson, age 37 with the FBI with a time of 1:45:02. Among women, the top contender was Monique Rico, age 44, an ER Nurse from George Washington Hospital with a time of 1:58:03. In the Tri Club Challenge, which drew more than 720 tri club members from 135 clubs nationwide, the top competitors were Seton Claggett, age 36 from the Tucson Tri Club with a time of

1:38:12 and Kendra Goffredo, age 31, from the Booz Allen Tri Club in Washington, DC with a time of 1:48:38. The Nations Triathlon, which is the only triathlon in the country dedicated to building awareness and raising money for the treatment of leukemia and blood-related cancers, raised $2.75 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this year with nearly 700 athletes competing and raising funds through the Societys (LLS) world-famous Team In Training (TNT) endurance sport training program. To date, the partnership has garnered an estimated $11 million for research, patient education and support initiatives that will help the LLS bring us closer to a cure. The Nation's Triathlon has been named the 2011 USAT Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship Race. The race qualies the top 33% per age group for the 2012 Age Group Nationals in Burlington, Vermont. Top qualiers from this years race included Vinnie Monseau, age 42 from Morgantown, WV with a time of 1:33:41 and Kathleen Hursey, age 22 from Hampstead, MD with a time of 1:44:52. Wed like to thank all of our competitors and sponsors this year, noted race owners Charles Brodsky and Molly Quinn. Despite the best efforts of Mother Nature, we were delighted to host triathletes from across the nation and around world for a memorable day where we could honor those who made the ultimate sacrice and demonstrate the strength and resilience of our people and our nation. About the Nations Triathlon (www.nationstri.com) The Nations Triathlon is one of the premiere International distance triathlons in the United States and the only race to benet research toward a cure for blood cancers. Set against the magnicent and patriotic setting of the nations Capital and its monuments, participants in the Nations Triathlon will swim 1.5k in the Potomac River, bike 40k through scenic vistas, and run 10k through downtown D.C. The Nations Tri has been named the 2011 USAT Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship Race. Ofcial sponsors for the 2011 race include: AT&T, Clif Bar, Clif Shot, Craft, Events DC, Gatorade, Giant Bikes, Gryphon Technologies, Jackson Clinics, jetBlue, Karhu, Muscle Milk, Pacers Running Store, Samsung, and Xterra Wetsuits. Media Notes: To request an interview or b-roll of the winners/competitors, please contact Jennifer Devlin at 703-876-1714 or Jennifer.devlin@cox.net.