By Cathy Miller

On July 16, a slightly overcast sky, a bit of haze, and warm lake water, all made the local panorama that is Belvidere’s Mountain Lake, Warren County’s largest, natural, glacial lake, the place for athletes of all ages to meet and compete to help raise funds for The Arc of Warren County.

The Arc of Warren County is dedicated to enriching the quality of life of persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who reside in the county. The Arc is committed to assisting families in resolving problems associated with the care of their family members with such disabilities.

Presented by DASH Multisport, LLC and The Arc of Warren County, the 2022 TRI Mountain Lake sprint triathlon drew over 80 participants of all ages from near and far. Known for some steep hills and beautiful vistas, the triathlon is considered “the hidden gem” of NJ races. The USAT-sanctioned TRI Mountain Lake toured the entire Mountain Lake area. A 1/4 mile swim in the lake was followed by a challenging 15 mile bike ride, and ended with a three mile sprint to the finish. New to the event was a three mile run-only option on the same course as the triathlon.

While the competitors raced to victory, it was ultimately The Arc that was the winner at this annual fundraiser.

Commenting on the sixth annual TRI Mountain Sprint Triathlon, John Whitehead, CEO, The Arc of Warren County, remarked, “We are extremely pleased to offer a fun morning for fitness enthusiasts once again. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of nature and the lake and participate in a local triathlon.”

The Arc’s community-based intervention programs foster self-sufficiency, productivity, self-determination, and social adaptation. As an advocacy organization, they strive to create a more inclusive society for their constituents. TRI Mountain Lake Sprint Triathlon is a welcome addition to The Arc’s commitment to healthier living for people of all abilities.

Event sponsors were Made Strength and Conditioning, St. Luke’s Health Network, Sanico, Inc., Visions Federal Credit Union, Assured Partners/Walsh Benefits, Maguire-Scala Memorial Home, Lakeland Logistics, Squibb Custom Machine, Blackstone’s Bar and Grill, J.P. Kelly’s, TMB Racing, Nova Timing Systems, Hop and Vine Liquors, Hair by Ashley York and Yellow Dog Investments; and to Quick Check, ShopRite of Hunterdon, Gibson’s Gym and Mama’s Café Baci for their in-kind donations.

From first step to final, all the competitors passed under a massive, inflatable red arch to cross the finish line while being met with cheers, high fives and sweaty hugs. This year’s winners were, men’s overall, Rich Uliana (pictured above), and women’s overall, Jaclyn Fahey. Earning an honorable mention medal was Keith Mann, a member of the US National Amputee Soccer Team, with a time of 1:41:47.8, pictured below.

The Arc is a national organization that serves individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their family members since 1950. The Arc of Warren County is one of 700 chapters of The Arc and serves more than 1,100 people annually for the past 68 years. Programs include residential group homes and supervised apartments, day services, community-based supports, advocacy services, recreation and summer camp, Special Olympics training, early intervention and a wide variety of additional social services.

The Arc, Warren County Chapter, Inc.
319 W. Washington Avenue, Washington, NJ 07882
908-689-4898            www.arcwarren.org

Full Race Results:
https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/29050?fbclid=IwAR3A4oqf8_vDQvXLeurRrY4dIDANjddji6524w3lxrueAFmkzPg3OFX–o8#resultSetId-328171;perpage:100

DASH Multisport LLC:
https://www.facebook.com/DASHMultisport