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New Jersey State Triathlon held despite oppressive heat

The New Jersey State Triathlon was held Sunday despite the oppressive summer heat.

News 12 Staff

Jul 21, 2019, 1:16 PM

Updated 1,963 days ago

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The New Jersey State Triathlon was held Sunday despite the oppressive summer heat.
Organizers say it took attendees around an hour and a half to two and a half hours to complete the course.
There were about 2,600 finishers over the course of the two-day event, but the course was shortened to keep people safe, officials say.
The spokesperson for the triathlon says Saturday's sprint distance triathlon was also shortened. Sunday's course was the Olympic distance.
The spokesperson says the swimming portion of the Olympic distance course was originally supposed to be 1,500 meters, and was changed to 750 meters.
Also, the biking loop was cut down from 26 miles to 13.5 miles and the run was changed to a 5K instead of a 10K.
Organizers say the course was shortened so attendees wouldn't be exercising during the hottest part of the day. The spokesperson says with the New York City Triathlon canceled, people who have flown in from Australia and Brazil were reaching out on social media to say they were disappointed.
Organizers say in response, they opened 150 more spots. The spokesperson says ice buckets and medical teams were on hand during the triathlon.
The spokesperson says a beer garden celebration will be held for the athletes participating.
Other than some data boxes overheating, the race director says there weren't any heat-related medical conditions.