Longtime Mercer Island resident Tom Robertson, 75, and his granddaughter McKenna Halter, 5, were the oldest and youngest competitors in the Seafair Triathlon on July 23.
Robertson, a retired doctor who has lived on the Island since 1970, competed in the sprint triathlon, finishing the half mile swim, 12 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run in 1:38.
His granddaughter Cassandra, 8, and daughter Dana Robertson Halter also competed in the event.
“Little McKenna was freezing and terrified before her race … I thought I’d made a mistake by entering her so young,” Robertson Halter said. “But when they did the countdown, she jumped in the water and was fierce.”
Robertson Halter is a Mercer Island High School graduate who has been competing as an elite triathlete for four years. In 2011, when her father was 69, they ran the Mercer Island Half Marathon together, finishing under their goal time of two hours.
Robertson was also a college swimmer, and enjoyed swimming with his masters swim team, the Mercer Island Redwoods. He has competed in the Boston Marathon, and ran in 1966, a historic year. During the race, someone in a blue hoodie jumped onto the course right next to Robertson. It was Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to complete the marathon.
Robertson Halter said her dad and her girls are “inspiring.”
The Swedish Seafair Triathlon and Kids Triathlon is one of the many events that take place as part of the summer festival. The signature event, Seafair Weekend, is Aug. 4-6.
For more on Seafair Weekend, see www.seafair.com/events/2017/seafair-weekend.
Tom and McKenna were the oldest and youngest competitors. Photo courtesy of Dana Robertson Halter
Five-year-old McKenna Halter crosses the finish line. Photo courtesy of Swedish Seafair Triathlon
Tom Robertson, 75, finishes the triathlon in 1:38. Photo courtesy of Swedish Seafair Triathlon
