Runners, swimmers and cyclists of all ages and abilities from as far north as New Jersey, as far south as South Carolina and as far west as Texas and Colorado flocked to Lynchburg on Sunday for the second-annual Angels Race Triathlon, starting at Downtown YMCA.

Proceeds from the race go toward the Brittany Groover Memorial Fund, which provides college scholarship money for students, and the Karla Bolen Memorial Funds, which gives grants to schools, including one to Forest Elementary this year.

Participation and enthusiasm was high, and it was hardly dampened by an early-morning rain, as nearly 300 people swam, cycled and/or ran in the sprint triathlon, up from just over 100 in the inaugural event.

More than 100 volunteers helped make the race, sanctioned by USA Triathlon, a smooth-running one.

Half the entrants were first-time triathletes and one-third of those who registered traveled more than 100 miles to get here, with the Holiday Inn Select being booked up as a result.

Some very talented college triathletes from JMU, Virginia Tech, VMI and William & Mary, as well as a large number of high school students, many who formed relays, turned out.

“We were thrilled with the turnout,” said Mick Gunter, the co-race director and executive director of the Angels’ Foundation. “We went as high as we could go this year. We want to focus on the spirit of the race, and it being a meaningful experience. We want people to compete, but we want it to be a very community, family-oriented (race).”

Catherine Phillips a professional triathlete from Lynchburg who for the second straight year finished second overall to Kevin Reid, said the race organizers accomplished that goal.

“It was a fabulous family activity,” she said. “It was amazing to see, Sunday morning, 300 people with their families and everybody standing there with umbrellas, still smiling.”

The race featured a staggered start, with one swimmer entering the pool every 15 seconds for the initial 300-meter swim stage. After two transition periods in the parking lot behind the YMCA, before and after the 25K bike segment which traveled out and back along River Road after crossing the James, runners in the 5K final phase down Ninth Street and along the Blackwater Creek Trail crossed the finish line near the community market in nearly as steady a stream as the swimmers started.

“The cheers for the last person to cross the finish line were probably bigger than the first,” Gunter said.

For the second straight year, that distinction went to Judy Bird, 57, who competed in the Athena category for female runners over 150 pounds.

“Everybody thinks she’s just great and she said she’s going to be doing it as long as she can,” Gunter said.

The youngest runner was Elizabeth Marshall, 6, who ran the 5K part of a relay with her mother and a friend. The youngest to complete the triathlon was Bilynda Brinkley, 11, and the oldest was Tommy Harris, who competed in the 60-64 age group.

Phillips, who plans to enter Ironman Brazil and Ironman Switzerland over the next three months, approached the race as practice for her transitions and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.

“It was a perfect day,” she said. “This one was so fun because there are so many first timers, families running as a relay team and high school kids trying it on their own, it’s a very low-pressure race.”

Van Phillips, Catherine’s husband who finished fourth last year, opted on Sunday to represent Bikes Unlimited as a support technician, changing close to 10 flat tires along the cycling portion of the race, including those that took a couple of the top competitors out of contention.

“He didn’t like that people’s races got ended by a flat tire (last year),” Gunter said. “That’s a good illustration of the meaning of the race, people supporting people and helping others to achieve their goals.”

Jefferson Forest cross country coach Jerome Loy, who has had two knee surgeries, completed the event for the second straight year, along with approximately 15 JF students, running in memory of Groover, who died last year in an auto accident.

Loy, who took 17 minutes off his time from last year to finish in around 1 hour, 48 minutes, experienced the most trouble on the cycling stage.

“My chain fell off once I got on it and then I fell off (near the end),” he said. “I was able to continue and I ran and walked and shuffled (in the running stage). My running days are over; I can’t run.”

But he didn’t let that stop him from trying. “Anybody can do a triathlon, I don’t care who you are,” he said. “I’m no spring chicken. Everybody can swim and ride a bike and run. So just go out and do it and feel sore for a few days and feel better for it.”