Cotee Man Takes Over Downtown

Well over 100 athletes biked and ran their way through downtown New Port Richey on Saturday as part of the 4th annual .

"Nice day for a run… although a little 'muggy'," said Nick Planck of New Port Richey.

Competitors first swam 150 yards at the pool, biked a 9-mile circuit on downtown streets and then ran 3.1 miles. 

It may have been a bit muggy, humid and hot...call it what you will, under the mostly cloudy skies, but that didn't seem to bother Jeremy Richardson and Stephanie Bell, the 'Overall Male and Female Open' winners. Richardson's total time was 47 minutes, 12 seconds. However, at 47 minutes, 36 seconds, Bell was not far behind.

The Cotee Man featured competitors from many walks of life, cultures and ages, with the oldest being 68. The youngest competitor, Keith Bauer, 4 years old (almost 5), swam only the first leg of the triathlon. Then, his mother and father each took their turns biking and running in his stead.

Race coordinator Rob Marlowe is deputy Mayor of New Port Richey, a blogger for Patch and the owner of .  He said the 'Cotee Man' is a USA Triathlon-sanctioned event and just one of the many fun festivals, concerts and events the folks from , a downtown revitaliztion nonprofit, put on throughout the year.

Proceeds help provide memberships to young people enabling them to use New Port Richey's Recreation and Aquatic Center and to promote downtown businesses, shop, and restaurants.

According to Marlowe, organizers expected to raise around $5,000 Saturday.