CBS 5 wins 2009 Ironman Arizona Mayor’s Media Challenge

CBS 5 Wins 2009 Ironman Arizona Mayor’s Media Challenge; Annual event featured 12 members of Valley media

Tempe, Arizona – A relay team from CBS 5 claimed the top prize at this morning’s Ironman Arizona Mayor’s Media Challenge. Anchor Catherine Anaya, Reporter Tammy Leitner and Producer Bonnie Loftus crossed the finish line first to win $1,000 for charity from Ironman Arizona.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman displayed his best-ever finish in this sixth year of the race, placing second. He was coached by 15-time Ironman world champion Heather Fuhr. The event involves a 24-yard swim in Tempe Town Lake, a 1.12-mile bike ride and .26-mile run – those distances are 1/100th of the real Ironman Arizona, which takes place Sunday in Tempe.

CBS 5 will donate the $1,000 prize to Girls on the Run, a charity devoted to helping pre-teen girls gain self esteem and maintain healthy lifestyles through running. This year’s event was the first to allow a relay team by request; other competitors listed below competed individually.

The other brave competitors in this morning’s chilly challenge were:

• College Times Editor Ed Baker and Assistant Editor Nate Lipka;
• Arizona Republic Southwest Valley Education Reporter Megan Gordon, Immigration Reporter Daniel Gonzalez, Page Designer Chris George, Public Safety Reporter Dustin Gardiner and Reporter Brian Hernandez;
• State Press Reporter Colin McGann; and
• Last year’s champ, East Valley Tribune photographer Tim Hacker.

Bikes for the event were provided by Landis Cyclery, which has two Tempe locations. Visit www.landiscyclery.com.

For more information on Ironman Arizona, visit www.ironmanarizona.com. For Tempe traffic closures and restrictions during Ironman Arizona, visit www.tempe.gov/streetclosures.

Source:  City of Tempe

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