THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 6, 1996             TAG: 9609060510
SECTION: FINAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ROANOKE ISLAND                    LENGTH:   43 lines

DESPITE AN OMINOUS FORECAST, TRIATHLON WILL GO ON AS PLANNED

The 12th Annual Outer Banks Triathlon will go on as scheduled Saturday morning, despite the threat of nasty weather from Hurricane Fran.

Nearly 300 athletes from across the East Coast will traverse an 18.8-mile course by swimming, biking and running. The race is the primary fund-raiser for the Dare Voluntary Action Center.

``The only way we'll cancel is if we have an evacuation or conditions that endanger our volunteers, spectators and athletes,'' DVAC Executive Director Mary Hall said Thursday.

The triathlon gets under way at 9 a.m. at the Old Swimming Hole near the airport on Roanoke Island. Early entrants will register tonight at 7, followed by bike inspections and a pre-race briefing.

Late registration will also be held beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday. Competitors must be at the race site by 8 a.m.

Among the competitors for Saturday's race is Nancy Lewis of Norfolk. She has captured the title in the women's competition six times. The course includes a 0.6-mile swim at the Old Swimming Hole, a 15-mile bike race and a 3.1-mile run.

``We get a lot of complaints about the swimming competition,'' Hall said. ``The water there is shallow in some spots, so the athletes get some scrapes.''

The swim portion of the race covers a triangular course. Then, the 15-mile bike race carries competitors down Airport Road and out and across the Mann's Harbor Bridge and back.

The final leg takes runners through the Dare County Airport, to the Dare County Detention Center and to the finish line, across from the Old Swimming Hole.

The competition allows last-minute entries.

``We take walk-up entries,'' Hall said. ``As long as we have slots available, we'll take applications.''

Prizes and awards will be presented following the race in noon ceremonies at The Weeping Radish in Manteo.

The center was founded 12 years ago, and serves as a clearinghouse for volunteers and organizations that need them. About 270 people volunteer throughout Dare County. by CNB