Locals finish high in ITC Triathlon

Andover's Keith Licata and Branchville's Matthew Majka turned in impressive efforts in the Ninth Annual International Trade Center Triathlon that was contested on Saturday in Mount Olive. Licata finished second overall among the 168 triathletes who completed. The ITC Triathlon is like no other, starting with a 14K mountain bike course over four different surfaces. The triathletes then transfer to one of 375 identical red canoes to paddle a 4K buoyed course on Budd Lake before finishing with a 5K run on a varied terrain of road, trails and fields. Licata was clocked in 1:25:31 and Majka, who placed fourth overall, was timed in 1:29.22. Hopatcong's 25-year-old Melissa Kern won the women's 20-29-year-old division with a clocking of 1:39:49. Picking up the runnerup award in the men's 60 and older age bracket was Newton's 66-year old Joseph Farinella, while Hamburg's Joanne Ploch, 37, placed third among the 30-39-year old women. Local finishers (Compliments of CompuScore and njtriathlon.com) 2. Keith Licata, Andover, 1:25:31 4. Matthew Majka, Branchville, 1:29:22 7. Jeffrey Pellinger, Andover, 1:31:50 26. Melissa Kern, Hopatcong, 1:39:49 32. David Platz, Lafayette, 1:41:32 47. Dave Nichols, Sparta, 1:45:42 68. Brian Beckman, Andover, 1:49:31 77. Joanne Ploch, Hamburg, 1:50:40 83. James Cunneely, Stockholm, 1:51:20 86. Mark Bippes, Lake Hopatcong, 1:51:57 87. Glenn Wegrzyn, Newton, 1:52:06 93. Gary Paporello, Newton, 1:53:13 106. Gary Finkelstein, Newton, 1:57:37 139. Debreen Oliva, Fredon, 2:08:28 140. Mark Frolich, Newton, 2:08:29 142. Della Brunner, Netcong, 2:10:55 154. Charles Spero, Netcong, 2:20:41 155. Joseph Farinella, Newton, 2:23:33 161. Donald Berry, Tranquility, 2:39:02 162. Tina Palecek, Wantage, 2:40:35