Culver's triple challenge

High marks for triathlon

CULVER -- "It is a great race," first-place finisher John Ruby said just moments after winning the second annual Culver Triathlon on Sunday, July 9.

"It was very challenging with the hills on the bike and running routes.

"A lot of places, they just have you run out a mile-and-a-half and come back," he added. "I told the race director (Russ Schenk) that it was more like triathlon meets 'Survivor.' It was nice and challenging."

For Ruby, 34, from Fishers, it was his second sprint triathlon (quarter-mile swimming, 12 miles biking, and a three-mile run) win in 40 attempts. His first was last year in Martinsville, he said, but he has collected a number of seconds and third-place finishes this season.

A total of 167 individuals (98 men and 69 women) and 10 three-person relay teams participated in the event.

Ruby finished the course in 56 minutes, 36 seconds, 19 seconds faster than runner-up Keith Higginbottom, 49, of Elkhart. Third place went to Cory Allen Osth, 30, of La Jolla, Calif., with a time of 57:02.

All of the top 10 men finished the circuit in less than 59 minutes.

Lisa Monhaut-Muller, 24, of South Bend, won the overall women's title with a time of 1:03.04. Second place went to state high school cross country and 3,200-meter champion Alex Banfich, 16, of Plymouth, who finished in 1:04.51. Jean Anne Yackshaw, 51, of South Bend took third place with a time of 1:06.17.

WOMEN'S OVERALL
1. Lisa Monhaut-Muller, 24, South Bend, 1:03.04; 2. Alexandra Banfich, 16, Plymouth, 1:04.51; 3. Jean Anne Yackshaw, 51, South Bend, 1:06.17; 4. Amy S. Reismeyer, 48, Fishers, 1:09.40; 5. Elizabeth Rice, 19, Elkhart, 1:10.11.

6. Megan J. Levette, 24, Indianapolis, 1:10.46; 7. Monika Gibson 38, Warsaw, 1:11.08; 8. Molly L. Peddinghaus, 39, Kankakee, Ill., 1:11.12; 9. Diane Kaeser, 29, Goshen, 1:11.22; 10. Margaret Marberry, 42, (town not listed) 1:12.25.

MEN'S OVERALL
1. John Ruby, 34, Fishers, 56.36; 2. Keith Higginbottom, 49, Elkhart, 56.57; 3. Cory Allen Osth, 30, La Jolla, Calif., 57.02; 4. Josh Skube, 30, South Bend, 57:04; 5. Brad Serf, 37, Plymouth, 57.24.

6. Marc Laudeman, 50, Bremen, 58.08; 7. Patrick O'Connell, 37, Warsaw, 58:28; 8. Jim Leo, 40, Zionsville, 58.37; 9. Steve Humphrey, 40, Logansport, 58.47; 10. Sam Williamson Jr., 19, Logansport, 58.47.

WOMEN'S AGE GROUPS
15--19: 1. Alexandra M. Banfich, 16, Plymouth, 1:04:51. 20--24: 1. Megan J. Levett, 24, Indianapolis, 1:10:46. 25-29: 1. Diane Kaeser, 29, Goshen, 1:11:22. 30--34: 1. Andrea D. Peterson, 30, North Liberty, 1:14:09. 35-39: 1. Monika Gibson, 38, Warsaw, 1:11:08. 40-44: 1. Margaret Marberry, 42, (not listed), 1:12:15. 45-49: 1. Amy S. Riesmeyer, 48, Fishers, 1:09:40. 50-54: 1. Jean Anne Yackshaw, 51, South Bend, 1:06:17. 55-59: 1. Diane Taylor, 57, Bloomington, 1:15:46. 60-64: 1. Dixie L. Richards, 63, Elkhart, 2:02:41.

MEN'S AGE GROUPS
11-14: 1. Ryan Bice, 14, Logansport, 1:01:09. 15-19: 1. Sam Williamson Jr., 19, Logansport, 58:47. 20-24: 1. Karl Swedlund, 21, West Lafayette, 1:03:30. 25-29: 1. Marc Van Hoff, 25, Chicago, 1:00:54. 30-34: 1. Cory Alan Osth, 30, La Jolla, Calif., 57:02. 35-39: 1. Brad A Serf, 37, Plymouth, 57:24. 40-44: 1. Jim Leo, 40, Zionsville, 58:37. 45-49: 1. Keith Higginbottom, 49, Elkhart, 56:57. 50-54: 1. Marc Laudeman, 50, Bremen, 58:08. 55-59: 1. Don Ransome, 56, Warsaw, 1:08:03. 60-64: 1. Sam Williamson Sr., 61, Logansport, 1:13:11. 70-72: 1. William Pauley, 71, Valparaiso, 1:35:55. 73-78: 1. Jim Henderson, 74, Culver, 1:20:35.

Plymouth's Brad Serf bounds out of the water during last weekend's Culver Triathlon. Photos provided

Art Jacobs of Plymouth (left photo) begins the three-mile run.

Marc Laudeman of Bremen jumps off his bike at the end of the second leg of the event.