In first Las Vegas trip, German wins Henderson triathlon

By Jackie Valley

Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010 | 8:11 p.m.

Six-time Hawaii Ironman World Champion Dave Scott gave Nevada Silverman Triathlon athletes some advice before they set out on the daunting course: Don't count off every mile.

"Do it in pieces," Scott said he told them. "... If they have kind of a mental roadmap of the course, that would help."

After all, the Nevada Silverman Triathlon isn't a simple jog in the park. The full-distance triathlon included a 2.4-mile swim at Lake Las Vegas, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.

The sixth-annual triathlon in Henderson — with a finish line at the Multigenerational Center on Green Valley Parkway — also included a half-triathlon and several relays.

Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, Andreas Wolpert crossed the finish line, making him the winner of the full-distance triathlon with a time of about 10 hours, 4 minutes and 56 seconds.

The Ellwangen, Germany, native said he tried to savor the moment as he ran the final stretch toward victory.

"It was such a tough day," he said. "Coming the last half-mile, I did it a little bit slower and just enjoyed it."

This was Wolpert's first time competing in the Nevada Silverman Triathlon and his first time in Las Vegas. Now, he plans to relax and be a tourist for the next week.

"It's absolutely a great feeling," he said. "I really worked hard for this race."

Chris McCormack, 37, of San Diego, finished first in the half-triathlon with a time of 4:22.54.

For some, the day was just as much a celebration for the family as it was a victory for the athlete.

Henderson resident Christina Molfetta, whose husband Eric ran the half-triathlon, coordinates her work schedule and taking care of the kids with Eric's grueling training regimen and work responsibilities. He trains seven days a week, alternating among swimming, biking and running.

"This is what he looks forward to every day," she said. "This is his hobby."

Eric's parents, twin brothers from New York and children, 3-year-old Broc and 16-month-old Emma-Gianna, joined his wife, cheering him on from various points along the course throughout the day.

"We just love it," Christina Molfetta said. "It's a good family environment."

Eric's father, John Molfetta, said the kids get just as much fun out of it, running around with their dad at home and sitting on the handlebars of his indoor bike.

"This is a good example for his children, too," he said.

About 1,100 athletes participated in this year's Nevada Silverman Triathlon, including all of the various races available, said Meghann Lowery, race director and co-owner with her husband.

Lowery said her husband, Frank, envisioned the race while driving on North Shore Road along Lake Mead when he was stationed in Las Vegas with the Air Force.

Since then, she said the race has grown each year with slight changes along the way. This year's race included an Aquabike course — a biking and swimming race without running — and Lake Las Vegas hosted the swimming portion of the races instead of Lake Mead.

The athletes' ages ranged from 16 to 74, Lowery said.

Scott said the course is considered to be among the three most difficult in the world with the bike portion climbing to an elevation of 9,600 feet and the running segment climbing 2,800 feet during the race.

"It's a slower bike and it's a slower run," he said. "It's a humbling course on all levels."

Twelve athletes competed as part of Operation Relay, a nonprofit organization supporting injured military personnel and emergency workers under the umbrella of the Challenge Athletes Foundation.

Veterans Michael Johnston, 27, and Oz Sanchez, 34, both of San Diego, were injured in separate motorcycle accidents. Johnston lost his left leg in his accident, and Sanchez suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in paralysis.

Johnston and Sanchez, who competed in the half-triathlon using a prosthetic leg and handcycle, respectively, said the program and venue keep them coming back each year.

"It's an opportunity to not only compete for yourself but for other people," Johnston said.

The triathlon, he said, sends a hopeful message to other wounded soldiers: "Don't let your disability define you."