Pair takes top spots in 5K series finale

The husband and wife team of Lee and Christa Stephens were the men's and women's champions at Friday's final race in the St. Pete Beach Summer 5K series.

Lee Stephens, 30 of St. Petersburg, was the first to finish, breaking the tape in 16:28 to win by more than a minute.

Steve Schilling, 28 of St. Pete Beach, was second in the men's competition in 17:29 and Zach Hoge, 18 of St. Pete Beach, came in third in 17:34.

Christa Stephens crossed the line in 18:23 to win the women's competition by 54 seconds. Stephens, 26 of St. Petersburg, was eighth overall.

Melanie Peters, 27 of St. Petersburg, was third in a time of 19:35.

The following local runners were age group winners: (M10-14) Adam Scott, St. Petersburg, 21:53; (F10-14) Alexis Stevens, Seminole, 24:08; (M15-19) Hoge; (F15-19) Savannah Dearden, St. Petersburg, 20:44; (M20-24) David Ramos, Treasure Island, 18:05; (M25-29) Schilling; (F25-29) Peters; (M30-34) Trey Howell, St. Petersburg, 17:44; (F30-34) Lisa Williams, Largo, 25:18; (M35-39) David Meri, St. Petersburg, 19:37; (F35-39) Wanda Daniels, St. Petersburg, 27:41; (M40-44) Marty Slade, St. Pete Beach, 20:06; (M45-49) Keith Sawayda, Clearwater, 17:36; (M50-54) Alastair Baillie, St. Petersburg, 19:59; (F50-54) Amy McClenathan, St. Petersburg, 20:43; (F55-59) Vicki Linkovich, St. Petersburg, 28:51; (M60-64) Jack Eads, St. Petersburg, 23:41; (F60-64) Bess Kennedy, Seminole, 43:32; (F65-69) Cathy DeHaan, Seminole, 35:29; (M70-74) Joe Burgasser, St. Petersburg, 21:34; (M75 and over) Larry Yost, Treasure Island, 31:00; (F75 and over) Jackie Yost, Treasure Island, 56:30.

YOUTH TRIATHLON SERIES: The Palm Harbor YMCA hosted the Youth Triathlon Series Palm Harbor on Sunday, and a number of local youngsters finished as champions.

Winning their age divisions were: (F5) Anna Cubito, St. Petersburg, 6:26; (M6) Trevor Parks, Clearwater, 5:30; (F7) Hannah Sullivan, Clearwater, 16:33; (F8) Ava Sykes, Largo, 16:51; (M8) Coleman Inglima, Clearwater, 16:43; (F9) Emily Sullivan, Clearwater, 18:00; (F10) Stephanie Hernandez, Clearwater, 15:36; (F11) Annaklara Doel, Palm Harbor, 24:12; (F12) Summer Kanstoroom, St. Petersburg, 20:10; (M12) Mitch Irwin, Oldsmar, 21:50; (F13) Victoria Beal, Palm Harbor, 26:20; (F14) Caroline Condon, St. Petersburg, 20:56; (M15) Breiton McElwain, Palm Harbor, 24:21.

In the adult super sprint competition, Kendra Miller of Clearwater was the women's wave one champion in 24:21. Bill Cottrell of Belleair crossed the finish line in 33:24 to win wave one on the men's side.

Tina Vornheder of Palm Harbor won wave two among female triathletes in a time of 24:44.

COTEEMAN TRIATHLON: Eric Hall, 31, was the first to complete the 150-yard swim, 9-mile bike and 3.1-mile run through New Port Richey at the third annual Cotee Man Triathlon on Saturday.

Hall was the Cotee Mann champion, finishing with a time of 39:57.

Laura Glover won the women's competition, completing the swim in 2:10, the bike in 25:00 and the run in 20:26. Her overall time was 49:46.

The age group winners from the Cotee Mann were: (M14 and under) Zack Parsons, 1:04:42; (F14 and under) Jenna Barbee, 1:06:30; (M15-19) Dominic Prado, 53:57; (F15-19) Jennifer Prevot, 1:05:24; (M25-29) Christopher Elliott, 1:13:29; (F25-29) Katie Killian, 1:03:47; (M30-34) Jeffrey Hill, 42:18; (F30-34) Vanna Kong, 1:02:56; (M35-39) Jamie Frisone, 50:08; (F35-39) Theresa Parsons, 1:01:04; (M40-44) Jean Gendebien, 52:07; (F40-44) Jennifer Folino, 1:05:40; (M45-49) Antonio Prado, 51:45; (F45-49) Carolyn Meadows, 56:53; (M50-54) William Meadows, 58:54; (F50-54) Cindy Williams, 1:02:05; (M55-59) Lee Rosenblum, 57:16; (F55-59) Vickie Engel, 1:25:07; (M60-64) Gerard Garavuso, 1:07:38; (M65-69) Sam Nall, 53:58; (F70 and over) Beth Gerber, 1:17:33.

The Clydesdale winner was Michael Greenman in 1:00:01.

SWIM NEWS: Bob Beach, a member of the St. Pete Masters Swim Team, won five medals at the XIII FINA World Masters Championships in Goteborg, Sweden, the first week of August.

Competing in the 80- 84-year-old age group, Beach won silver in the 400 meters (8:00.32), 800 meters (15:06) and open-water 3K (1:04:03).

Beach took bronze in the 100 meters (1:38) and 300 meters (3:38).

YOUTH ELITE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: St. Petersburg's John-Gerard Farese, 14, finished eighth overall at the Youth Elite National Championship, a draft-legal triathlon, in San Diego on Aug. 14.

Farese, a member of the St. Pete Mad Dogs, completed the 375-meter swim, 10K bike and 2.5K run in 34:20.