Staff Team Triathlon

Challenge accepted! When teams from the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department called upon other city departments to participate in the 2015 Omaha Women’s Triathlon on June 7, three OPL employees answered the call. Laurie Hajek-Jones, senior clerk at South Omaha Library; Megan KleinHewett, adult services librarian at Main Library; and Cynthia Vana, library specialist at Millard Branch; formed Team Dewey Decimators to represent OPL in this community event. The Omaha Women’s Triathlon brings together women of all athletic abilities to promote the pursuit of healthy and active lifestyles. The event consisted of a 750m swim, a 20km bike ride, and a 5k run. Teams had the option to participate in the event as a relay, with each member of the team completing one leg of the triathlon. This option encouraged Klein-Hewett to join the team. “I have always wanted to try a triathlon, but cycling isn’t a strong suit for me,” said Klein-Hewett. “Having the opportunity to do a triathlon as a team let me experience the swimming portion of the race without having to commit to the whole thing. Plus, being able to do it as a team was fun! We supported one another during our training and on the day of the event.” Congratulations Laurie, Megan and Cynthia on a job well done! In case you’re curious, books about triathlons can be found in the 790s section of the Dewey Decimal System, under “recreation.”