When the first runner passed the finish line at the Willow Creek
Triathlon Saturday morning, there were words of encouragement,
applause and whistles.

When the last person passed the finish line some 90 minutes
later, there were still words of encouragement, applause and
whistles.

And when each person crossed the finish line, there was a
disabled American veteran there to pat a back, shake a hand and say
thank you. Many, though breathing heavily, said thank you back to
the veterans.

You see, the people who finish the triathlon, now in its fourth
year, aren’t the only winners. All of the proceeds go to the McKean
and Warren counties DAVs. This year, ,9,040.30 was raised through
the help of 171 participants, an increase over last year.

The increase in money raised and participants pleased the
organizers.

“When we had 123 to 132, I thought we had reached a plateau,”
said Doug Yohe, one of the triathlon organizers. “It shot right up
to 171 and it doesn’t look like there’s an end in sight.”

Yohe noted that all of the money is earmarked towards buying a
van for the DAV. He hopes that after a triathlon, they can buy a
van outright.

The triathlon began with a 300-yard swim in Quaker Lake in
Allegany (N.Y.) State Park. Participants then took a 15-mile bike
ride to the Corydon Hotel, followed by a three-mile run to The
Willows Restaurant.

Trevor Thomas, a legally blind hiker, Dr. Dennis Faucher, a
veteran of the Vietnam War, and Art Salisbury, who served with Thom
Maholic, all spoke.

The first-place winners receive the Master Sgt. Thom Maholic
Award named in honor of the Bradfordian who died in 2006 while
serving in Afghanistan.

“How does someone from Bradford, Pennsylvania, end up with a
name on a trophy,” Salisbury asked. “He lived life as you trained
for this triathlon …

“You are remembering Thom for the things he loved to do,” he
said. “His family lost a son, but have gained a larger family that
grows every year.”

Kristoph Kocan was the top male winner with a time of 1 hour, 4
minutes and 15 seconds. Cheryl Burns was the top female winner with
a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 45 seconds.

The participants vary in age such as 8-year-old Caitlin Reed,
who won the Braveheart Award along with Wade Confer, 75, the oldest
participant.

Helen McKenna also received the Braveheart Award. McKenna has
clocked in 129,000 miles and 5,600 hours driving veterans to their
appointments.

Some participants trained for months, while others decided at
the last minute.

“It was hard,” said 13-year-old Payton Ambrose of Bradford after
the triathlon. Payton just decided to do the triathlon when her
cousin from Virginia decided to do it. “It sounded like fun.”

Payton said she was stronger in the swimming part – a triathlon
includes swimming, bicycling and running – and it was still a
challenge.

“It’s still hard,” she said. “All the seaweed …people kicking
…”

Bicycling is hard, too, because the space between the
participants widens.

“It seems longer by yourself,” she said.

She trained in her pool the day before the event.

The daughter of Allison and Lloyd Ambrose finished at 1 hour, 54
minutes and 30 seconds. She was happy she clocked in under two
hours.