Jamison Baker of Daleville was the first tri-athlete back to the finish line in Sunday’s first Bearwallow Breakdown. It took him 3 hours, 51 minutes and 2 seconds to complete the 26-mile course that started and ended in Buchanan. While only eight men had the fortitude to take on the course that included a 6-mile kayak paddle on the James River, a 7-mile trail run in the mountains area east of Buchanan and a 13-mile mountain bike ride back to the finish line at Buchanan Town Park, organizer and Muddy Squirrel owner Tim Miller thinks the event will grow as word gets out about the course challenge. Jeremy Skiff of Fincastle was second in the event, less than a minute behind Baker. Skiff was also crowned “King of Buchanan” for his combined time in the Buchanan Tri- Run, Ride, River Race in September. The 45-year-old won the Buchanan Tri in 1:4919 and had a time of 5:10:24 over the combined 46-mile courses. Four of the top 10 finishers in the Buchanan Tri participated in the more demanding Bearwallow Breakdown.
Photos by Ed McCoy
