Riptide professional triathlete Tate Behning, currently also racing with the University of Colorado collegiate team, finished 2nd at the Lake Havasu Triathlon, March 20th, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The Lake Havasu Triathlon also served as the conference championship for the Mountain Collegiate Triathlon Conference. Behning finished second overall and second in collegiate division to fellow CU teammate and professional triathlete, Cedric Wane. After several of the men, Behning included, were led slightly off course early in the swim by the lead jet-ski, he fought back throughout the rest of the race, overtaking second-place on the run less than half-a-mile from the finish. He had the fastest run split of the day recording a 34:21(this also includes transition time) for a total time of 1:59.03 on the Olympic distance course.
This is Behning’s first race since May of 2009 after which he was struck by a drunk driving while on a training ride and sustained fairly serious injuries. Behning was excited to be back out competing. “It felt so great being back out racing. While still not back to full strength, it was really personally motivating to fight back and get back into a race. I am very fortunate to have great friends, family, teammates – both Riptide and CU, and great sponsors, such as Rocket Science Sports and Mix1 to all keep encouraging me. And as a direct pitch for Rocket Science Sports – I forgot how amazing their wetsuits are. That is the best I’ve felt coming out of the water.”
Behning is currently busy getting prepared for collegiate nationals in Lubbock, Texas, April 17. “Its hard since I am also busy with schoolwork to also try to prepare for a major race. Fortunately many other collegiates are facing the same challenges so I know I’m not the only one.” Behning is currently getting his MBA at the Leed’s School of Business on the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
