Volte Triathletes Wrap Up 2013 Season at Oilman

For the majority of triathletes, the Oilman Texas Triathlon in Montgomery – a half iron distance race -- is typically either the culmination of one’s season or is a final tuneup for year-ending Ironman Arizona or Ironman Cozumel.

And for a small few, it is neither.

For all, though, it is the celebration of hard work – and a lot of fun with crowd support that seems to grow each year.

Volte triathletes, runners and friends had nearly every category of Sunday’s race covered – with the exception of an Aquabike competitor.

Joey Ishee and Colleen Sager were our triathletes who completed the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run.  Both debuted at this distance on Sunday.

Joey Ishee is all systems go halfway through the run on Sunday.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Ishee, 32, is a first-year triathlete and completed the swim in 42:12, rode the bike course in 3:32:22 and ran the half marathon in 2:46:08 for a 7:11:45 finishing time.

Colleen Sager midway through her run as she runs next to Finish Strong's Jed Beck
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Just nine months from giving birth to her and her husband, Brandon's first child, Sager, 30, meanwhile, finished the disciplines in 41:41, 4:00:45 and 2:43:12, respectively, for a 7:36:17 finish.

Three of our runners ran the half marathon portion as parts of relay teams.

Derek Bailey went 1:30:12 to help “Finish Strong and Friends” finish sixth overall in the male relay division.

Gina LeFavour and Kelly Whiddon ran 2:07:41 and 2:01:37, respectively, to help “Yay Us!” and “Church Project Chix” finish fifth and tenth overall in the female relay division.

Our friends, including our partnership with Southcoast Endurance, had successful days as well.

Southcoast Endurance coach Christi Moore, 42, led the way with an age-group winning time of 5:31:58 – a 41-minute, 35-second improvement from a year ago.

Moore finished Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas in May in 15:00:24.

Just four minutes and four spots behind was one of her pupils, Krista Blevins, in 5:35:59.

The 43-year-old produced the fastest half-marathon time in the age group with a 1:47:11 split, followed closely by Moore’s 1:50:10.

Chad Giardina, 38, and Todd Lacoste, 47, rounded out our Southcoast partners with times of 6:04:03 and 6:42:57, respectively.  Chad also runs with The Woodlands Team in Training group.

Volte friend Jeanette Hagelskaer, who trains with Finish Strong Coaching, completed the course in 6:47:52.

It was her second career half iron distance finish for the 47-year-old Hagelskaer, who finished Ironman Texas in 15:08:46 earlier this year.

Volte athletes and friends were supported by Bill Dwyer, Mary Carter, Curtis Hooper, Tammy Grado, Michelle McGill and Tabitha Young.