By Mary Owen
The City of Stayton is gearing up for the second annual Sprint Triathlon slated for May in 2012.
“We’re looking for sponsors,” said Alissa Angelo, with Stayton Public Works, one of eight Triathlon Committee members coordinating the event. Others are Rebekah Meeks with Stayton Family Memorial Pool; Jennifer Lunsford with Stayton Public Works; Christine Shaffer and Jennie Trent with Stayton’s Finance Department; 2011 race sponsor April James with Screamin’ Tees; 2011 race participant Eric Wiser, and race volunteer Paul Fontanini.
Sponsorship applications are being sent out to assure sufficient funding for the May 19 event. Funds donated by sponsors will be held in the city’s trust account specifically for the Stayton Sprint Triathlon.
If enough funds can’t be raised in time, the race will be postponed until after July 1. Levels of sponsorship include: Platinum – $2,500; Gold – $1,000; Silver – $500; Bronze – $250; Marketing – $100; Goodie Bag – $50 and In-Kind, Gear and Service (bib numbers, race belts, awards, refreshments, other race-related items)
Proceeds from this year’s event went toward equipment for the Stayton Family Memorial Pool. Meeks and Lunsford began discussing the idea to support the pool after Meeks completed her first triathlon, Angelo said.
“Both women are passionate about fitness and wanted to create a local event to encourage that,” Angelo said. “The pool is a great community asset and is always in need of funding for new equipment and from that the Stayton Sprint Triathlon was born!”
With city approval, three women began planning the May 2011 triathlon, with swimming, biking and running events.
“The triathlon is another example of Stayton ‘accentuating the positive’ by promoting a healthy activity for not only our citizens, but for all participants involved,” City Administrator Don Eubank said. “And it is one that I am more than happy to volunteer my time for.”
Participant registrations in 2011 generated $7,500, and $3,500 has been spent on new pool equipment. The remainder is being held in reserve until sponsorship commitments are enough to guarantee a successful 2012 event, Angelo said.
“Last May’s proceeds were used to purchase tot docks, a great piece of safety equipment for toddler/ preschooler swim lessons,” Angelo said. “They offer young children a safe platform to rest on, rather than clinging to the side of the pool during group lessons. This is a huge safety improvement, and one that would not have been possible without funds from the triathlon.”
Water polo goals were also purchased, she added.
“The goals can be used during open swim, and there has been discussion about trying to start up a water polo league,” she said.
Meeks said proceeds from the next triathlon will be used to update and upgrade worn out pool equipment used for open swim time, swim lessons, lifeguard and exercise classes – a “benefit to all patrons using the pool.”
“With so many cutbacks and financial challenges facing the city, as pool manager, I am grateful to be the recipient of the triathlon funds,” Meeks said. “It is nice to be able to purchase equipment to make the pool and safer and better place for all of our patrons.”
The pool also receives financial support from the Friends of the Pool and the Santiam Community Endowment, Meeks said.
“This support along with triathlon funding this year has made an incredible improvement in the equipment and programs that are available for our patrons,” she said.
About 200 participants registered for the May 2011 triathlon, “leaps and bounds” above what the city anticipated for its first event, Angelo said.
“Our goal was 75 participants,” she added. “For our 2012 event, our goal is to open up registration to 300 participants, if we can obtain enough sponsorship.”
Angelo said Stayton Cooperative Telephone Co. has once again signed on as a platinum sponsor. To date, others include: ProMotion Physical Therapy, West Coast Bank, Dan Kent Metals, Keller Associates, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Cammack-Kingsley Insurance, Edward Jones, Moonlight Maintenance, North Santiam Credit Union, North Santiam Funeral Service, Salem Health, Scott’s Cycle, Screamin’ Tees, Dave Valencia’s State Farm Insurance, and Stayton Family Mortgage.
Adding chip timing – a suggestion stemming from an online participant survey after the last triathlon – has upped costs for the 2012 race and the need for additional sponsors, Angelo said.
“Chip timing will make this a more professional event and will put Stayton on the map for triathlon competitions,” she said.
“We are hoping to raise approximately $12,000 in sponsorships, and are about halfway there.”
If funds don’t reach the projected amount, Angelo said they will have to drop participant registration goals.
For information, or to sign on as a sponsor to the Stayton Sprint Triathlon 2012, call Angelo or Lunsford at 503-769-2919, Meeks at 503-767-POOL, or Trent at 503-769-3425.
