Steamboat field braces for a marine invasion

Delbert Marriott's reputation precedes his name.

Chad Sierman, the director of the Steamboat Classic triathlon, knew Marriott off the top of his head Thursday merely as Delbert from Sikeston. "He's a USA Triathlon athlete who's competing for the first time in our race," said Sierman, who is directing the race for the first time.

Added David Welker, the top local finisher in last year's race: "I just heard there's supposed to be a Marine guy" in the race.

Marriott, a Blodgett, Mo., native, is an accomplished triathlete and the past winner of the Missouri Miles Sprint triathlon in 2002. He had the best 5-kilometer time in the All Marine Sports Regional Running Program in 2003. More recently, Marriott was third in March in the Parris Island Triathlon, when he covered a 500-meter swim, a 12-mile bicycle ride and a 5-kilometer run in 55 minutes, 11 seconds.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, Marriott is expected to be in the first wave of athletes competing in the 21st annual Steamboat Classic, which includes a 500-yard swim at Central Muncipal Pool, a 15 1/2-mile bicycle ride in the area and a 5-mile run into downtown Cape Girardeau and back to the pool.

Barry Knight, who had won four straight triathlons from 2000 to 2003 prior to getting sick during last year's event, also is back for another try. He has the course record, set in 2000, of 1 hour, 13 minutes, 51 seconds.

"I think it's going to be good competition between those two," Sierman said.

Defending champion Tim Sandfort has not registered yet, but two-time defending women's champ Kirsten Winkler of Tennessee is in the field.

Entries will be accepted today from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Central Municipal Pool. The fee is $32.55 for individuals and $37.80 for relay teams.

Sierman said the preregistered field includes 136 entries, down from the 170 or so athletes that competed last year.

"A lot of people kind of wait and see what the weather is going to be like before they enter," Sierman said.

Athletes will go off 32 at a time every 20 minutes from the start.

Welker wasn't certain from which group he would start. He went out in the third wave last year in his first solo triathlon and finished in 1:28:14. The 17-year-old Jackson High junior, who swims with the Gators and runs cross country for the Indians, said he has been working to improve his time.

"I went biking with a friend of mine 41 miles the other day," Welker said, "and I went running a couple of times. I want to get under 1:20 if I can."

Sierman, who had co-directed the Trail of Tears triathlon last year, succeeds Doug Gannon, who had coordinated the event since the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department took it over in 1997. Gannon, who now works for Saint Francis Medical Center's FitnessPlus, will be helping out again Sunday.

"I called him one or two times," Sierman said, "to ask some silly questions about 'Where does this go?' or 'Where is this?' It's been a challenge. It's been interesting."