Jessica Ransom
(Swim Coordinator)
I grew up in Sacramento, but some of my most formative miles were logged farther south chasing saltwater and family stories in San Diego, where my Pop grew up. That’s where my love for open water swimming really began. He’d paddle alongside me on his surfboard while I swam through La Jolla Cove and around Coronado, teaching me early that the water demands respect, presence, and a little courage.
As a kid, the Pacific Ocean was more than just water, it was my connection to my family, my history, and myself. That relationship shaped everything that followed. From year-round swim team to competitive softball and volleyball, swimming became the endurance backbone for all my sports and taught me how to stay calm when things get uncomfortable, a skill that translates surprisingly well to triathlon.
Now, as the Swim Coordinator for Tri-Augusta, I aim to help athletes turn the swim from something they fear into something they trust. I’m passionate about our local Masters swim community and proudly train with the Blue Tides, where consistency, camaraderie, and showing up for one another matter just as much as pace times.
Outside the pool, I love being surrounded by Augusta’s incredible athletic community. You’ll find me running with Augusta Run Club during the colder seasons, joining Fleet Feet run meet-ups, and hitting the trails with the Augusta Trail Runners. Giving back is just as important as training.
I regularly take part in trash pickups with Augusta Run Club and other local athletic groups, because if we sweat in these spaces, we should take care of them.
That same value carries into Tri-Augusta. Because I swim in our waterways, I believe deeply in protecting them. Tri-Augusta and our broader community work together to keep the Savannah River and Clarks Hill safe, clean, and swimmable for everyone.
The goal isn’t just to get through the swim. It’s to honor the water, trust your training, and start the bike feeling strong and smiling, a little.
Corey Smith
(Bike Coordinator)
Jeff Spires
(Run Coordinator)
I have been with TriAugusta since 2011 and a member since 2012. I was the training coordinator for a few years and then served two terms as club president. I’m currently a board member at large and help with the club training groups.
I started my endurance career with the very first Augusta half marathon. Since, I have completed 9 half marathons, several 5 and 10k’s and 3 full marathons. My very first triathlon was the Augusta 70.3 Half Ironman in 2012. After completing that I went straight to my first full Ironman, Ironman Florida 2013 in Panama City beach where I was fortunate to complete that as well. I’ve raced Chattanooga 70.3 as a relay, and minus two years, I have raced Augusta since 2012, either solo or as a relay team member. In 2016 I signed up for and completed the Savageman 70.3, arguably the hardest half Iron distance triathlon in the United States, where I did earn my brick for climbing the wall. Recently, other than Triathlons, I have gravitated more to trail and ultra running with two 50k’s and three 100 mile ultra trail runs completed since the beginning of 2023. Endurance events are more than a hobby for me, they are a way of life, a life that I give them more than a little credit for saving.
Anyway, that’s a condensed piece of my endurance career that I hope to continue adding to for many more years to come.
I look forward to seeing each of you out on the road and trails soon.
Debbie Lynch