Kristian Whitsett of Shelburne Falls took the top spot in the Highlander Braveheart Laddies Division of the sixth annual Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon over the weekend, highlighting a busy day of competition at Berkshire East Mountain Resort.
The annual event consisted of a 4.2-mile road/trail run, a 16-mile cycling leg along the Deerfield River, a 2-mile kayak/canoe race down the Deerfield River, a 2-mile obstacle course that brings competitors into the base area of Berkshire East, and finally, a climb to the summit (1,000 vertical feet) of the ski area which finished in a downhill ski/snowboard course to the finish.
Whitsett completed the course in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 35.06 seconds, capturing the top spot in his division.
Westminster’s Erin VanTuyl took first in the Highlander Braveheart Lassies Division, as she was first across the line with a combined time of 3:02:52.
In Tartan-Team-of-Five competition, the Buckland Blaze took home the top team prize with a combined time of 2:19:50. The quintet consisted of Northampton’s Lucas Kaplan, Craig and Beth Vettori of Ashfield, and Matt Zarotny of Shelburne Falls.
Jayden Skelly of Shelburne Falls was first across in the U-19 division (3:09:08), while the 50-plus team category was claimed by the West County Old Stars (2:40:26). That team was comprised of Charlemont’s Cynthia Fisher, Ashfield’s Philip Pless, Conway’s Ursula Posl, and Shelburne Falls’ Richard Warner.
In 65-plus racing, ‘337-year old Pentathaloners’ were the winning team in 3:40:03. Leverett’s Craig Barringer, Colrain’s Marilyn O’Brien, Pittsfield’s Herman Ogulnick and Hadley’s Peter Vincent all handled legs of the event for their squad.
Florence’s Matt Kane and Ann Markes were the winners of the Tam-O-Shanter two-person division, as they combined for a time of 3:04:09 over the course of the five events.