WASHINGTON PARK — With temperatures in the low-80s and a gentle breeze coming off the river, the stage could not have been more perfect for the 2015 rendition of the Washington Olympic and Sprint Triathlon.

The spectacle, featuring a nice mix of local and visiting triathletes, took over Riverside Drive in Washington Park on Saturday morning, as hundreds swam, biked and ran all along the waterfront from downtown Washington to the mouth of Broad Creek.

The race was organized and clocked by FS Series Race Production using electronic chip technology and all runners were required to wear an RFID ankle bracelet on their left ankle, which calculated exact times for each portion of the race.

For the Olympic Triathlon, athletes had to tackle a 1500-meter open water swim in the Pamlico River, a 24-mile bike ride looping to the end of River Road (two circuits) and a 6.2-mile run across the Washington Park bridge to the Stewart Parkway lighthouse (two circuits). Those who elected to compete in the shorter Sprint Triathlon had to finish a 750-meter swim, a 12.5-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run — just one circuit along the bike and run courses.

Kory Gray of Raleigh took first place overall in the Olympic Triathlon with a time of 2:02.45, while Julie Birbillis of Cary took first place for the women with a time of 2:28.12. In the Sprint Triathlon, Wilmington resident Todd Midgett won with a time of 1:04.21 and Brianne Gaal took first by 43 seconds with a time of 1:10.07.

“It’s a really nice race,” Gaal said after crossing the finish line. “The water was really nice and it’s flat, which is great because it makes for a fast course. The venue is really great and this is my second year here.”

Here are some of the top finishers and local racers from the 2015 Olympic and Sprint Triathlon:

 

TOP MALE OLYMPIC FINISHERS
First Place – Kory Gray, 29, Raleigh (2:02.45)

Second Place – Brendan Jones, 27, Suffolk, Va. (2:08.47)

Third Place – Scott Moomaw, 45, Apex (2:20.23)

 

TOP FEMALE OLYMPIC FINISHERS

First Place – Julie Birbillis, 29, Cary (2:28.12)

Second Place – Libby Talley, 36, Cary (2:32.58)

Third Place – Linda Hatfield, 47, Apex (2:38.04)

 

TOP MALE SPRINT FINISHERS
First Place – Todd Midgett, 38, Wilmington (1:04.21)

Second Place – Bruce Richter, 44, Grimesland (1:05.47)

Third Place – Doug Cowell, 46, Pittsboro (1:07.44)

 

TOP FEMALE SPRINT FINISHERS

First Place – Brianne Gaal, 36, Morrisville (1:10.07)

Second Place – Elizabeth Skiba, 42, Chapel Hill (1:10.50)

Third Place – Rachel Houp, 41, Cary (1:17.44)

 

LOCAL MALE OLYMPIC PARTICIPANTS

Justin Little, 34, Greenville (2:35.44)

Charlie Kresho, 43, Winterville (2:43.33)

Michael Colombo, 67, Greenville (2:47.18)

Andrew Gorbea, 29, Greenville (3:01.38)

Wilson Pau, 51, Greenville (3:12.20)

Xin He, 47, Winterville (3:28.23)

 

LOCAL FEMALE OLYMPIC PARTICIPANTS

Kathryn Sheets, 35, Greenville (2:41.19)

Abby Herrit, 28, Washington (3:08.21)

Leslie Whitehead, 44, Greenville (3:17.40)

Stephanie Slayton, 38, Winterville (3:25.05)

Sarah Lage, 36, Greenville (3:57.37)

 

LOCAL MALE SPRINT PARTICIPANTS

Bruce Richter, 44, Grimesland (1:05.47)

Kyle Pitchford, 45, Greenville (1:11.06)

Bert Kelly, 49, Greenville (1:16.09)

Tim Mathews, 45, Aurora (1:21.04)

Stuart Oliphant, 49, Greenville (1:22.56)

Ricky Davis, 57, Greenville (1:25.31)

Nathaniel Poulin, 38, Winterville (1:25.32)

John Caracolgia, 39, Greenville (1:26.11)

Benjamin Heck, 33, Southport (1:28.45)

Glenn Crocker, 30, Washington (1:34.18)

Thomas Alligood, 56, Greenville (1:37.35)

Edward Disy, 70, Chocowinity (1:40.28)

John Lennox, 69, Greenville (1:44.55)

Robert Morrison, 77, Greenville (1:48.38)

Kevin Murray, 54, Greenville (1:53.35)

 

LOCAL FEMALE SPRINT PARTICIPANTS

Emily Price, 43, Greenville (1:25.25)

Shirley Burleson, 32, Greenville (1:26.00)

Tonya Winfield, 39, Greenville (1:26.27)

Mandy Palmer, 43, Winterville (1:28.27)

Shelby Smithwick, 24, Washington (1:36.42)

Liane Harsh, 49, Washington (1:40.06)

Lindsey Barr, 28, Greenville (1:41.00)

Amy Bond, 43, Winterville (1:49.08)

Renee Coghill, 48, Washington (1:53.53)

Angela Harne, 34, Washington (2:14.41)

Cameron Bradley, 46, Washington (2:17.01)

 

LOCAL OLYMPIC RELAY TEAMS

Team Sizzlefish, Blounts Creek (First Place, 2:17.15)

Sam, Earl and Jen, Bath (Third Place, 2:39.40)

Beauty and the Beasts, Winterville (2:46.16)

 

LOCAL SPRINT RELAY TEAM

Lightning, Greenville (First Place, 1:12.35)