IRON MOUNTAIN, MI – In a triumphant comeback, the U.P. Northwoods Triathlon roared back to life in Dickinson County over the weekend, marking its first appearance since the onset of the pandemic. The event, organized by the Northern Lights YMCA, drew in nearly forty participants, including nine enthusiastic local kids. Medalists from various categories shared their experiences, highlighting the resilience and joy of returning to the triathlon scene.
Dan Krznarich, who was awarded the first-place medal, expressed his delight at the return of the event. “And now I’m excited for my daughter to get to do the kids’ one. I’m just as excited for that so. It’s good to be back and see the Triathlon back here in Iron Mountain,” he said.
His daughter, Lucy Krznarich, a third-grade youth medalist, shared her race favorite, saying, “The bike, because it was the easiest.”
Among the young competitors, some had a strong preference for the water. Eleven-year-old Dominic Tatangelo commented on the swimming leg, expressing his favorite, saying “The swimming,” although he added, “It was kinda far though.” Bryce Johnson, a 13-year-old youth medalist, chimed in, “Well, the water was very freezing. Not as cold as Lake Superior or Teal Lake. All it did was just make me faster.”
Dr. Tom Schroepfer, an adult medalist and an experienced triathlete, applauded the course as a must-try for competitors. “I’ve done triathlons in 31 different cities; this is my 57th triathlon, and I’ve done them in 5 different states. And this was the best bike course that I have ever done in my life. The most scenic. The most challenging. Up and down hills and around curves and everything. And around this beautiful Lake Antoine, gorgeous scenery,” he emphasized.
Looking ahead, Pine Grove Country Club will host “Corks and Forks” later this month, offering an evening of wine tasting to benefit local YMCA programs. The event is scheduled for Thursday, the 28th, at 5:30 Central Time, promising a delightful experience for attendees while supporting a worthy cause.
In the youth category, Bryce Johnson was named male overall, with a time of 16:52:27, and Aubree Peterson was named female overall with a time of 17:16:27.
For the adults, male overall was Dan Krznarich with a time of 1:20:00:29, and the female overall placeholder was Sarah Venditti with a time of 1:27:13:7 for the Individual sprint Triathlon.
For more information on programs available at the Northern Lights YMCA, visit:
