NEVIS CYCLE & TRIATHLON CLUB

Aug. 31, 2008 -- James Weekes of Nevis beat out last year's winner, St. Maarten resident Frits Bus, for a first-place men's finish at Sunday's Love City Triathlon. A total of 97 people crossed the finish line.
"I didn't come this far to lose," Weekes, 36, said as he caught his breath after crossing the finish line at Annaberg. With Bus second, Jason Snow of St. Croix came in third.
In the women's division, Theresa Harper of St. Croix beat St. John residents Jodie Tanino and Jude Woodcock by a big margin to win the event. Wet weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Hanna's passage to the northwest forced organizers to make drastic changes to the bike course as well as minor changes in the running course.
After the swimmers came out of the water at Maho Bay Beach, the bikers went as far along the North Shore Road as Peter Bay, turned around and returned to Francis Bay instead of heading around the island. They finished at Annaberg, where runners raced back and forth to Francis Bay.
"The hills are so dangerous when they're wet. They can't get the traction to get up them and going down is dangerous," Race Director Louise Wearmouth said, discussing the reasons for altering the course.
The was Weekes' first time entering the triathlon.
"It was tough and wet. I couldn't push as hard as I wanted to on my bike. I couldn't stand up to power up the hills," Weekes said. He said by the time he neared the finish line in the run portion of the triathlon, he was on his "reserves." Bus, congratulating him on his win, told Weekes that he knew he "had something left" when they neared the finish line.