LAKE OTSEGO (8/7/04) - Mark Mellon never competed in a triathlon, but after his death in a motorcycle accident at age 16, his parents, Dennis and Judy, saw the creation of such an event as a fitting tribute to his life as a three-sport athlete. "Mark was excellent in football, basketball and baseball," his father said.

In 1981, the Mellons started the Mark Mellon Memorial Triathlon at Otsego County Park. During the early 1990s, the Mellons turned over reins of the race to the Otsego County Parks and Recreation Commission. Mike Tarbutton, a longtime family friend who attended Gaylord St. Mary's High School with Mark, now directs the race; Dennis and Judy Mellon remain consultants.

Events include a triathlon (.6-mile swim, 31-mile bike, 6.2-mile run), a short-course triathlon (200-yard swim, 12-mile bike, 3-mile run) and a duathlon (5K run, 50K bike, 5K run).

"Dennis Mellon is the only person who has competed in the triathlon every year since it started," Tarbutton said.

Dennis's son, Greg, joined him in the triathlon this year. Another son, Jeff, his daughter, Pam, and daughter-in-law, Mary, did the short-course triathlon. Many other families took part as well.

A couple from Fremont had a particularly-good day. Jim Lanciaux, 42, won the duathlon, while his wife, Debbie, also 42, was sixth overall (second master) in the women's triathlon.

Jim's 2:05:08 was 2:28 faster than his fourth-place finishing time from last year. "My bike was stronger," he said. "My transitions were better than last year too."

Brian Devereaux (2:08:13) took second in the duathlon, and Scott Vogel, 44, of Jackson third (2:10:53). For the women, Janet Jacobs-Walt, 46, of Beverly Hills finished first (2:22:22). Lori Hume, 33, of Rochester (2:32:01) and Linda Callison, 38, of Gaylord (2:36:56) were second and third, respectively.

A Franklin couple captured the long triathlon. Eric Fernando, 36, was men's champ (2:05:53), while his girlfriend, Cheryl Klotkowski, 28, won the women's race (2:26:17).

Triathlon runnerup Joseph Deighan, 33, of Beverly Hills (2:06:12), made up a lot of ground in the run, but couldn't quite catch Fernando. Masters winner Pete Bolen, 40, of Ypsilanti, was third overall (2:08:33).

Klotkowski won handily over women's runnerup Margaret Hoag, 41, of Wayland (2:31:10) and Karen Wells, 34, of Farmington (2:36:45).

Sam Wilkinson, 33, of Middleville, won the men's short triathlon, with Brad Hoag, 43, of Wayland, Margaret's husband, second.

Mary Andriese, 39, of Grand Rapids, finished first among women, with Anna Hagel, 20, second. Audrey Hoag, 13, daughter of Brad and Margaret, was the fastest female under age 20.

"I felt pretty good," Audrey said. "I had a tough time on the bike. But I've been told I'm doing good."

The event had 102 finishers in the long triathlon, 23 in the duathlon, and 63 in the short-course triathlon.

Proceeds went to the Gaylord St. Mary's Athletic Association. "The people who make this race go are volunteers from Gaylord St. Mary's," said Tarbutton. "There's about 75 of them. Last night they had a spaghetti dinner; today they put on a picnic for everybody. They have someone at every corner for the bike course and every corner for run. They do a great job.

"We plan to do something special for our 25th anniversary next year," Tarbutton said.

See you next year, Mike. MR