In the Sunday morning warmth by the downtown waterfront, Marc Dubrick defended his title in the 42nd St. Anthony’s Triathlon while Grace Alexander took the women’s crown for her first win in four attempts in one of the sport’s premiere pro events.
But the road to the finish line was paved with challenges for both champions – a recent foot injury for Dubrick, and a stingray barb at the worst possible moment for Alexander. They were just two of the more than 3,100 athletes who participated during the Triathlon weekend which started with the Meek & Mighty Triathlon on Saturday.
Less than a week ago, Dubrick wondered if he would even be able to race, let alone achieve his first successfully defended championship. A month ago, an MRI revealed that he had partially torn two tendons that wrap around the anklebone. Sunday was only the second time he’d run hard since the diagnosis.
“On Tuesday, I was still on the fence about racing until I did my first hard run that day,” he said. “I didn’t want to hurt myself, but it went well and we were good to go.”
Dubrick won his second straight St. Anthony’s Triathlon by completing the 1.5K swim, the 40K bike and the 10K run in 1:42:22.03, some 21 seconds ahead of Matthew McElroy who took second in 1:42:43.93 and third-place finisher Andrew Schellenberger at 1:44:14.53.
It was extra special for Dubrick of Boulder, Colo., considering his parents, Paul and Marypat Dubrick, had flown in from Chicago for the race. “He’d been struggling with his foot injury and this was his first time running in several weeks, and we had no idea what he could do on his feet,” Paul said. “So this was very exciting for us to see.”
Alexander had her own hurdle to overcome at the start of Sunday’s race. As she entered the water to begin her swim, she felt a sting in her right ankle. “The girl next to me stepped on it, and said, ‘I think I just stepped on a stingray, and immediately I felt the stinger,” Alexander explained. “…I went to a volunteer and asked if these were dangerous stingrays, and should I be worried – I wasn’t going to take a risk. She said, ‘No but it’ll be painful.’ ”
Indeed it was, yet the Greenville, S.C., triathlete powered through to win by more than 34 seconds in a time of 1:56:35.09, ahead of last year’s women’s champion Lisa Becharas (1:57:00.87) and Jodie Stimpson (1:57:32.95).
Alexander went immediately to the first-aid tent for treatment after crossing the finish line, and minutes later, savored her significant achievement. Her prior best finish was seventh place. “This is huge, because, obviously, St. Anthony’s is a great venue, and they put on a great race,” she said. “And the prize money is very generous here – winning $10,000 is huge. I’m very happy with that, and I’ll be able to pay my rent for a little bit.”
The pro race was far from the only compelling storyline Sunday. One of the most powerful belonged to Kevin McCormack, whose plan to compete in the Triathlon two years ago with his son, Shane, abruptly ended with his son’s passing. McCormack has taken some solace in his son’s organ and tissue donation with Tampa-based LifeLink, an organ and tissue bank. And Sunday he came to compete in his son’s memory. “This was unfinished business,” he said. “I know Shane was with me today, and he lives on through the many families he has touched.”
Then there was long-time triathlete Matt Dell. Three years ago, the Illinois man was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation, but it spread to his lungs, then his lymph nodes. Today, the cancer is inoperable, and the 59-year-old CEO of a medical device company has been told he has between two and 10 years to live. But he has responded by embracing life each day, including his love of triathlons.
“I’m literally blessed by cancer because it gives you the freedom to stay in the present,” Dell said. “Cancer has allowed me to quit worrying about the future. In addition, movement and triathlon are like medicine. It’s all about continuing to do what you love.”
Count St. Petersburg grandmother Gina Anderson as one who now loves triathlons, too. After losing 100 pounds since 2023, she decided to do her Sprint-distance race Sunday, along with her husband Allan, a triathlon veteran. With family, friends and colleagues watching, Anderson crossed the finish line in elation and beat her husband in the process.
“I was so worried about the swim, but it was my best part of the race,” she said. “I was hoping to do it in 20 minutes and I did it in 14! And when I crossed that finish line, seeing people I know cheering me on, I almost cried.”
