Male Triathlete of the Year - Grady Smith
 

By: Bob MacDonald

The 2009 Gulf Winds male Triathlete of the Year continues to excel in the grueling half Ironman distance races. He was a consistent top ten finisher holding the fastest times in this event of any other Gulf Winds Triathlete.

He began his season in April in New Orleans with a 7th place finish in a major national event the Oschner Ironman 70.3. He followed this up a month later with a 2nd place finish at the Gulf Coast Half Ironman in Panama City. His time of 4:28:17 was third overall best at the Atlantic 70.3 event at Amelia Island in October. His results qualified him for the Foster Grant World Championships at Clearwater Beach in November where he set his fastest time of the year in his age group finishing in 4:09:55. Nationally he earned USA Triathlon All-American honors and is currently ranked in the top 100 in his age group.

This year’s Male Triathlete of the Year award goes to Grady Smith!