Storms Miss Biggest Triathlon Yet

Jeff Tarkowski survived a hard-fought half marathon leg to win the Door County Triathlon Half Ironman event held Sunday at Frank Murphy County Park in Egg Harbor. Tarkowski battled last year’s champion, Mark Harms, throughout the final 13.1-mile run.

Tarkowski, 38, of Green Bay, trailed after both the 1.2 mile swim leg and the 56-mile bike leg of the race, but made up for it in the run. He finally caught the 34-year-old Harms, of Madison, about four miles into the run. But Harms didn’t fade, taking back the lead before mile six.

“I knew I had a sprint in me at the end, but Mark’s usually got a great sprint too,” Tarkkowski said.

Harms kept the lead for the next six miles, but with a half mile to go, Tarkowski took the lead, and from there Tarkowski said “it was a crap-shoot. Whoever could keep their legs moving faster down the hill was going to win.”

Tarkowski charged down the hill about 22 seconds in front of Harms, 4 hours and 5 minutes after lunging into the water.

Threatening skies didn’t thwart the 6th Door County Triathlon Sunday in Egg Harbor.

“I was really happy with my race – I finished 10 minutes faster than last year,” Harms said. “I just wish it was 10 minutes and about 20 seconds faster.”

As Tarkowski and Harms sat in tubs full of ice water after the race, Tarkowski said he relished the chance to compete to the wire.

“It’s not too often that you get pushed to your very best, and Mark did that to me today,” he said.

Jackie Arendt of Madison had an easier time of it in her race to the top of the women’s division. Arendt won by 15 minutes.