Weekend Wrap-Up

A little rain wasn't going to slow these athletes down. Maryland was booming with sporting events this past weekend.  Two notable events were the Cal Ripken World Series and the Aflac Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon.

In Aberdeen, the Ocala Highlands team from Florida played Mexico in the World Championship Sunday afternoon.  Ocala Highlands beat the Ohio Valley Regional Champs from Lexington, KY on Saturday in the Semi Finals with a 3-2 win to earn them the U.S. Championship Crown, and a spot in the big game.  Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic with a stunning 18-0 win, clinching the International Division Crown for the eighth consecutive year.


Mexico is no stranger to the World Championship as this was their eighth straight year playing in the final game, and their fourth straight championship facing a team from Florida.  The Club from Mexico are four time World Champions, although their last win occurred in 2007.  Hard work certainly pays off over time, as this was their year to bring home the trophy.  Mexico defeated Ocala Highlands in a 7-1 victory Sunday afternoon.  Many teammates and coaches attributed a large part of the win to their pitcher, Gerardo Haro.  Haro was named MVP after striking out 11 batters.

Just a short trip down the beltway from Aberdeen the Aflac Iron Girl Triathlon was taking place in Columbia, MD. The event took place at Centennial Park in Howard County.  Howard County executive Ken Ullman offered words of encouragement to the participating ladies, as well as thanks to the many (most likely sleepy) volunteers just around 6am.
The race course is known as a "sprint" distance. It consists of a .62 mile swim, 17.5 mile bike ride, finishing with a 3.4 mile run.  The course has a reputation for being pretty daunting with lots of hills on the bike and running portions. 
Over the years the Aflac Iron Girl Columbia has grown into the largest Iron Girl Triathlon in the United States! Participation topped around 2,400 females this year. With a record number of 52 mother/daughter teams, 62 teens, 71 relay teams and 34 woman ages 60 and over. This year there were also three Para triathletes running. Notable among them is Sarah Reinertsen the first female above-knee amputee to ever finish a full Iron man.

The big winner of the day was quite the determined young lady, 35 year old, cancer survivor Laurel Wassner of New York, NY, with a time of 1:23:16.  Some impressive Marylanders are Marge Burley, at 65 years old she finished the race with a time of 1:58:01. Also Suzy McCulloch of Columbia, who finished fourth overall, and Para triathlete finisher, Jamie Rogers from Baltimore with a fantastic time of 3:00:59.

Great Job Ladies!