Olympian Matthew Sharpe and Ginger Howell Take Championship Title at 2021 Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon

September 1, 2021

12th Annual Event at DCR Carson Beach Signifies a Return to Racing in Boston

Boston, MA – After a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19, the Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon returned to racing today at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Carson Beach in South Boston.  In the 12^th annual event, Olympian Matthew Sharpe of Victoria, British Columbia, who competed for Team Canada in the Tokyo games, captured the title of Top Male athlete and Ginger Howell of Framingham, MA captured the title of Top Female athlete.  Sharpe finished the race in 1:37:54 while Howell finished in 1:58:29.   Derek Jakoboski of Tolland, CT was the second-place male finisher with a time of 1:40:44 while Katherine Meltzer of Jersey City, NH finished second to Howell with a time of 2:06:27.

With registration capped at 1000 athletes to create the safest event possible, the sold-out USA Triathlon-sanctioned event featured both an Olympic distance and a sprint distance race along with the Boston Corporate Cup Competition.  The event combined a swim at the DCR’s Carson Beach, a bike ride on DCR William Day Boulevard and a run in Moakley Park. Boston Mayor Kim Janey was on hand to greet the finishers.

“What a thrill it was to bring our community back together for the 2021 race,” said Michael O’Neil, president of the Boston Triathlon.  “Year after year, the Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon has continued to grow, becoming a signature event for the city and creating a positive impact for the community.  After such a difficult year for many, it was incredibly special to see everyone turn out today, putting aside the challenges to embrace a safe return to racing and to be a part of the triathlon community once again.”

As in years past, the event’s charity partner was Boston Medical Center (BMC).  Team BMC athletes raised funds to advance Boston Medical Center’s work in health equity and address social determinants of health. After caring for patients who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, BMC is leading efforts to shift the health care landscape and break the chronic cycle of disease burdens dictated by race, ethnicity, ZIP code and income. By continuing to expand BMC’s safety-net services, community partnerships and health equity programming, the hospital can further serve as advocates and partners for all patients. In turn, it will yield better health outcomes, educational advancement, economic mobility, housing and career opportunities, resulting in happier and healthier people, families and communities.

“The best part of today was seeing people come together, push themselves physically and emotionally, united in the goal of helping BMC achieve health equity in Greater Boston.  We are honored to stand alongside the Boston Triathlon’s participants, Team BMC, event volunteers, friends and families, who have contributed contribute so much to make today such a success,” said Leslie Walstrom, head of global marketing, at title sponsor Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

In addition to the sprint and Olympic distance events today, hundreds of athletes under the age of 15 competed on Saturday, August 28, 2021 for Kids Day at the Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon. The day featured the USA-Triathlon Kids Splash-and-Dash event for athletes ages 7-15 and the Kids Fun Run for all athletes under the age of 7.  Youth groups from across the city took part, including the South Boston Leadership Initiative and Youth Enrichment Services (YES), a nonprofit organization based in Boston that provides Boston’s youth with year-round outdoor enrichment and leadership programs.

For more information, visit www.bostontri.com.

About the Boston Triathlon 

The Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon is the only triathlon to take place in the City of Boston.  The race typically draws athletes from all around the world, the country, the state and the city of Boston. Each summer, athletes descend on the South Boston waterfront for two days of racing.  Now in its 12^th year, the Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon is a fixture in the community, with Olympic and sprint distance triathlons, the Boston Corporate Cup, and an all-ages Kids Day.  The race is produced by ethos, a mass participation event organization created to bring athletes together through challenging and unique sporting events.  ethos also produces the Lobsterman Triathlon in Freeport, Maine.   For more information about the Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon, visit www.Bostontri.com

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments:

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is a leading global asset manager that provides a broad range of investment strategies and solutions for individual, institutional and corporate clients around the world. With more than 2,000 people, including over 450 investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia, we manage $593 billion^* of assets across developed and emerging market equities, fixed income, asset allocation solutions and alternatives.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global asset management group of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). For more information, please visit columbiathreadneedle.com/us.

* As of June 30, 2021. Source: Ameriprise Q2 2021 Earnings Release.

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