SEATTLE — More than 3,700 women gathered in Seattle Aug. 16 to participate in the 2009 Danskin Seattle Triathlon at Genesee Park.

Moses Lake’s Kerri Richins led the pack in the 60-64 age division, cruising past 77 other individuals to claim her division’s top spot.

Richins and 10 other Moses Lake residents made their way west Aug. 16 to participate during the 2009 Danskin Triathlon Series.

According to the Danskin Triathlon Web site, “the Danskin Triathlon Series is the largest and longest running women’s triathlon series in the world.”

Moses Lake resident and 2009 Danskin Seattle Triathlon participant Kathy Erickson said the Danskin Triathlon Series is an impressive annual event. The Danskin Triathlon Series is in its 20th year of competition and Erickson said the competition brings women together.

“Danskin is especially impressive because it usually consists of 5,000-plus women of all shapes, sizes, and ages of women, some being as wonderfully seasoned as 70-plus years old,” she said.

Erickson was one of 11 Columbia Basin residents to compete during the 2009 Danskin Seattle Triathlon on Aug. 16 and she said she and her fellow Moses Lake participants have been training and competing together for approximately 5 years.

“We Moses Lake gals have been training together for the last 5 years or so and competing in various races from triathlons, bike races and runs,” she said.

Erickson said the 2009 Danskin Seattle Triathlon was an opportunity to compete and raise money for a good cause.

“(The event) was put together by Sally Edwards and the proceeds went to breast cancer research,” she said. 

The Danskin Triathlon Series is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and according to the Danskin Triathlon Series Web site, it is “the largest and longest running women’s triathlon series in the world.”

The series was established 1990 and is committed to promoting women’s health and fitness.