Triathlon race will continue

While the race director for the Race on the Rock Triathlon will be stepping down, the event will continue.

Outgoing race director Traci Ciepiela will be replaced with Cate Miller of Rock Springs. Miller is a triathlete, as well as a military veteran, cancer survivor and mother. The reason she decided to take over is because she didn’t like the idea of the race ending.

The race moved to the Flaming Gorge area for the first time last year and Miller hopes to have the Aug. 24 triathlon start at the gorge again. She also hopes to add a 70.3-mile distance and 140.6-mile distance to the race in the future.

The 2019 race will retain the Olympic and sprint distance races, as well as aquabike, aquathlon, duathlon and youth competitions.

The Race on the Rock continues to be the only USA Triathlon-sanctioned event in Wyoming and attracts competitors from throughout the state and country. In 2018, the event only had six local competitors, with most coming to Sweetwater County from other locations in the state and two from Chicago and Georgia respectively.

“I have no doubt that the race will continue to grow and attract more competitors from around the country. I will miss being able to be there when the cowbell starts the swimmers on Aug. 24, 2019, but I am leaving the race in good hands,” Ciepiela said.

Registration begins Dec. 1. People seeking more information can email Miller at raceontherock@gmail.com, look at the race’s Facebook page or check out the website raceontherock.weebly.com.