Triathletes qualify for distance national championships
Andover residents Sharon Johnson, Tom Kinneman and Ann Domigan recently qualified for the triathlon Olympic Distance National Championships after competing in the Half Ironman Pumpkinman Triathlon in South Berwick, Maine on Sept. 9.
Julie Rogers also placed third in her age group for Pumpkinman’s Sprint Triathlon distance.
The four Andover residents have been training together at a North Andover training center owned by Johnson for the past year. All credit the group dynamic for helping keep them motivated and on track for their success this year, according to a release from the company.
Kinneman (60) and Johnson (55) both placed first in their respective age groups and Domigan placed second in her age group. Johnson also had the fastest bike split time of all females across all age groups. Johnson is the owner of Breakaway Computraining, a cycling and performance training center in North Andover.
Kinneman, who still works full time, said in a release, “it’s difficult to work full time and train for such intense events. Training together, particularly during the winter months at Breakaway, definitely helped me to stay on track even on days when I wasn’t especially motivated. The Pumpkinman was a great race and it was very satisfying to see so many of my training partners place.”
Both Johnson and Kinneman qualified for the World Age Group Championship just a few weeks earlier at the National Championships held in Burlington, Vt.
In her company release, Johnson credited the ability to train at any time with the computraining technology for helping her win the bike split portion of the triathlon beating women half her age. Johnson is a USAT Triathlon coach and top ranked All American Triathlete who competes and volunteers in local races in support of local and national charities. She works closely with Trifury, an area triathlon club and coaches for the Merrimack Valley Striders running club.
Flanagan helps St. Michael’s golf
The Saint Michael’s College men’s golf team finished play at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship earlier this month, finishing 10th in the 11-school meet.
Senior George Flanagan, an Andover High graduate finished with a 168 to be part of the top five for the Purple Knights, according to a release from the college.
Flanagan finished tied for tied for 19th overall with a 167 at the five-team Penmen Invitational.
Arvidson helps Stonehill climb comeback trail
The Stonehill College women’s volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit in its five-set triumph over Merrimack College by scores of 21-25, 19-25, 29-27, 25-15, 25-15 and 15-12 in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) action at Merkert Gymnasium on “Purple Night,” Oct. 9.
Junior right-side hitter Kirsten Arvidson, an Andover High graduate, posted a .382 hitting percentage, hammered home a match-high 16 kills, had three block assists and three digs to help the Skyhawks in their come-from-behind efforts.
