August 20, 2008

Desrosiers Completes Triathalon Trio

If you have spent any time on the Clarkson campus, you have probably seen Shannon Desrosiers, the women's hockey program's co-head coach, running across campus. And even if you haven't yet, it is likely you just haven't paid close enough attention. All of the training has paid off as Desrosiers completed her third triathalon of the summer this past weekend in New Hampshire, placing second among amateur women and ranking among the top 10 women at the event.

Desrosiers, who has competed in the Tinman at Tupper Lake (NY), the Ironman at Lake Placid (NY), and the Timberman at Lake Winnipesaukee (NH), started her season in late-June and has since swam 4.8 miles, biked 224 miles, and ran another 52.4 miles in competition alone. In New Hampshire on Sunday, Desrosiers competed the half-triathalon Timberman with a time of 4 hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds, placing first in her age group and 103rd overall in the competition, professionals included. Among the amateurs, she was 84th overall and second among all women, a group that included a total of 1,532 participants.

Earlier this year she competed in the Tinman at Tupper Lake and was 29th overall among 607 competitors, naturally finishing first among her age group and coming in second among all female racers with a time of 4:52.08. The Tinman was another half-triathalon that took place in late-June.

The key race of the summer took place on a rainy July day as Desrosiers competed in her first Ironman competition in Lake Placid, NY. She was 14th among women and second in her age group with a time of 10:42.32, the 190th overall finisher among 2,340 participants.

The races have Desrosiers considering changing her status from amateur to professional as she clearly ranks among the best in the world already, and she is contemplating thoughts of seeking sponsorships for even more participation.