About 300 athletes came from across Michigan’and several other states’to swim, bike and run through Clarkston during Sunday’s annual Craig Greenfield Memorial Tri and Du.
The event, now in its fifth year, was created by Corey Greenfield in remembrance of her brother Craig, a 1986 Clarkston High School graduate who lost his battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2000. He was 32.
Since its inception in 2003, the memorial event has raised nearly $100,000 for the Michigan Chapter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
Sunday’s race began at Deer Lake Beach around 8 a.m. Those who competed in the tri’or triathlon’portion of the event started with an 800-meter swim, followed by a 16-mile bike ride and a four-mile run.
Du’or duathlon’competitors began with a two-mile run, followed by a 16-mile bike ride and a four-mile run. This year’s first place triathlon finisher, Clarkston resident Timothy Polonkey, 31, finished the race in 1:17:14.
Some 50 other Clarkston-area athletes took part in the event, as well.
‘It’s a wonderful hometown setting, and it’s for a great cause,? said Independence Township resident Derrick Fries, who participated Sunday and beat his 2007 time by about 11 seconds. ‘I’ve built some great friendships along the way. Where else do you get a 55-year-old guy like me competing against an 18-year-old??
And compete he did ? Fries came in 12th overall, finishing the triathlon in 1:31:34.
The event was Fries? eighth race this year.
‘There are some unique things to this course,? he said, explaining that most triathlons allow swimmers to don wetsuits when water temperatures dip below 77 degrees. The Craig Greenfield Memorial does not.
‘The transition from water to bikes is particularly long, too,? he said. ‘Here, when you get out of Deer Lake and run all the way into Depot Park to get on your bike. The question for the competitor, then, is do you run that third-of-a-mile barefoot, or do you stop and try to put on shoes??
Fries, who opted for slip-on water shoes, said the extra challenges make the course unique and attractive to athletes.
‘You’ve got to just love this race to pieces,? he said. ‘It’s more to manage, so it’s a lot of fun.?
Corey Greenfield said her brother lived an active lifestyle, and competed in several similar events during his lifetime.
‘He was very athletic,? she said. ‘And very much into health and fitness.?
When she decided in 2003 to create the event in Craig’s honor, Greenfield contacted 3 Disciplines Racing of Fenton and got to work on the details.
‘It’s become an amazing community event,? Greenfield said, noting some 35-50 volunteers pitched in to help out with set up and race-day support. ‘I’m so grateful to all the merchants; they’ve been incredibly generous about supporting us and donating to our raffle.?
Greenfield said she was also thankful for the ongoing support of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation, as well as the Clarkston Police.
Although the event takes a great deal of planning, Greenfield said it’s all been worth the effort.
‘The Leukemia Lymphoma Society really helped my brother when he was sick,? she said. ‘They did some nice things to help keep his spirit up, and that’s why we picked them to support when we decided to organize this event.?

In memory…

‘It is so wrong when someone you love dies at 32, and so difficult to no longer hear Craig’s voice, see his smile and feel his hugs.
‘We cannot change what happened to Craig, but we can embrace a cause in his memory, one he would have participated in with pleasure before non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma destroyed his considerable athletic ability and took his life.?
-Kathy Greenfield, Craig’s mom and former Clarkston News editor (www.skyegentle.com)