Tacks strewn on path of bicycle triathlon race

Emily Edwards spent more than a year training for Saturday's USA National Triathlon. She came all the way from Palm Beach, Fla., to compete.

Halfway through the 26-mile bike ride, Edwards found herself riding on rims.

The 26-year-old was one of about 30 athletes unable to finish the race after running over small metal tacks that had been scattered on portions of the race route.

"Where they were handing out water on the turnaround, there were three or four people every 100 yards (with flat tires)," Edwards said. "I'd guess there were 30 or 40 people."

The women's 25-29 age group, one of the last to race, was the hardest hit, leading organizers to believe that the tacks had been thrown on the roadway sometime during the race.

Before the race began, crews from the city of Coeur d'Alene and the Eastside Highway District swept the course.

"This is vandalism, pure and simple," said Ray Plotecia, president of USA Triathlon, who also competed. At about mile 10 of the bike leg, Plotecia said he began seeing an "inordinate amount of tacks."

"It's clear someone threw tacks in the road," said Randy Hill, head referee for the triathlon. "Who knows why somebody would do that."

He held one of the tacks, which he said was the same color as the pavement.

People traveled from all over the country to compete, some spending thousands of dollars.

No injuries were reported, but Edwards said a 72-year-old woman crashed after her bike tire was pierced by a tack. A lot of racers were visibly upset.

One man, who traveled from Kodiak, Alaska, said he noticed his rear tire had gone out. Someone gave him a new tube and he was getting ready to fix his tire when he realized his front tire was also flat.

The tacks were still there as he reported to race officials that he couldn't finish the triathlon.

Steve Locke, executive director of USA Triathlon, also competed and said he saw numerous people stopped along the race course. Locke said he wasn't sure exactly which athletes had been affected, but some could have potentially been top finishers.

"It happens from time to time," Locke said. "It's unfortunate."

While disappointed that she couldn't finish the race, Edwards wasn't placing any blame.

"It's not the race director's fault," Edwards said. "It's not the course marshal's fault. Look, if that's the worst thing that can happen, we're OK."

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