SPARTA, NJ - The Third Annual Pass It Along Triathlon at Lake Mohawk took place on Saturday. The Lake Mohawk Country Club  was the start and end point of the event. Triathletes from across the U.S. came to swim, run and cycle.
The Triathlon consisted of a 0.5 mile swim, a 10.8 mile bike ride and a 3.0 mile run. Participants began arriving before dawn in anticipation of the 7 am start time. Over 300 athletes were joined by a huge throng of spectators that lined the boardwalk and streets of Sparta to cheer them on. 
 
For the second year in a row, Jason Wood and Tracey Swenson were the top male and female athletes of the Pass It Along Triathlon. The 34 year old Wood finished with a time of 1:03:27.
 

Swenson who is 49 years old, finished with a time of 1:08:10. Both athletes improved their times from last year. But the triathlon was not just about the fastest times or strongest performance. Many participants just wanted a chance to compete at their best. 
 
For some this was their first triathlon. Triathlete Ryan Edwards of Andover, NJ, has experience in running events and encouraged his girlfriend Leora Dillon of Sparta to enter the Pass It Along Triathlon.
 
Edwards stated, "This is Leora's first triathlon and I trained her."
 
The two did not finish in the top tier but felt positive about their performance.
 
Edwards was asked how he felt out on the course and he simply exclaimed, "I felt elated!"
 
Dillon echoed his sentiment. 
 
The Pass It Along Triathlon not only attracted elite athletes, but regional businesses that sponsored the event. Newton Medical Center, Eastern Propane, Skyland's Cycling of Sussex County, and Lakeland Bank of Sparta, were among the many sponsors.
 
For a complete listing of placings and times go to the compuscore.com website at: http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/july/piaind.htm