Paratriathlon National Champion ...

Michelle Dynes, daughter of Lynn Williams of Waukon and the late Dale Williams, won the Paratriathlon National Championships held in Williamsburg, VA September 10. Dynes competed in the PTS5 Women division and won the event by 10 minutes over her nearest competitor in a time of 1:39:14. Dynes competed in the sprint triathlon race, which consisted of a 750-meter swim, followed by a 20-kilometer bike ride, and a 7-kilometer run.

The win boosted Dynes to elite status and secured her a spot on the U.S. Elite Paratriathlon National Team. As a member of that team, Dynes represented the United States in the World Triathlon Para Cup held in Alhandra, Portugal this past Saturday, October 7, where she finished fifth in a time of 1:16.48. At the age of 48, she was the oldest competitor in her division in that World Triathlon Para Cup.

Dynes attended school in Waukon until she was in sixth grade, when her family moved to Decorah. She works as a lead researcher for the Global Immunization Division at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently detailed to the UNICEF Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. Submitted photo.