Kathy Sasso
Kathy was lucky enough to be introduced to running (age 25) by joining an incredible running club in Milford, CT. The club had one 2:13 marathoner and several under 2:30, so excellent coaching was available! At that time (1983) females under 3 hrs (marathon) could qualified for olympic trials. She wanted to go, just to participate, but fell short with a 3:07, then met Dom and lived her life! Ran on and off until almost losing a leg in a horse-related accident at age 50. Her Bucket List, set back in the ‘eighties’, included doing an Ironman. In November 2020, she decided time was running out, so sent in entry for Florida 140.6/2021! Wow, what an education along the way! Did a sprint, an olympic, Florida 70.3/4th (qualifying for Worlds), Utah 70.3/14th, Augusta 70.3/3rd, then Florida 140.6 (although she dnf’d the swim). In 2022, finished Florida/5th and Chatt/6th in spring, then Augusta/2nd and Wilmington/1st in the fall, ending with Florida 140.6 /1st in November. 2023 will include Worlds in Finland, Augusta, Wilmington, and maybe Florida 140.6! Our TriAugusta club has offered me encouragement, training, education, and validation.
Chuck Messick
Chuck has been a member of TriAugusta since 2014 and served as the club president in 2022. He is a retired Navy Reserve Diver and manager at the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration. He began his triathlon journey in the early 1980’s in Virginia Beach when there was no name for shorter triathlons, the half-ironman distance didn’t exist and to his knowledge “wetsuits were not used”. He participated in the equivalent to a sprint and olympic-style distance in the 80’s. He moved to the CSRA in 1990 and began competing in triathlons again in 2014 following his retirement. He enjoys helping the TriAugusta club advance the sport of triathlons in the area.