NORWAY — More than 200 athletes from 16 states and two other countries will compete in the fifth annual Norway Triathlon on Saturday, July 14.

Lee Dassler, program coordinator art the Western Maine Foothills Land Trust, announced this week that  209 competitors, ranging in ages from 18 to 69, including 131 individuals and 26 teams have registered for this year’s Triathlon. The competitors are coming from 16 states including Maine and from Chile and New Zealand. Registration is now closed.

The Triathlon-sanctioned sprint triathlon is being held in conjunction with the annual Norway Arts Festival this weekend.

Dassler said the Triathlon will start at 8 a.m. with a kilometer swim following a triangular course from Pennesseewassee Park beach. Four heats of swimmers will be escorted by a flotilla of guide kayaks and safety patrol boats. Competitors and team members will then get on their bikes and proceed west towards the Greenwood Road from the park. Riders will turn north on the Greenwood road and proceed to a turn around at the Richardson Hollow Road. The bike course is 18 kilometers. Returning to the park, competitors will leave their bikes for the run finale, which is following a new course this year.

Dassler said runners will leave Pennesseewassee Park at the School House entrance, turning east and running along the lake to the Roberts Road where they will cross Route 118 to run up to the entrance of Roberts Farm Preserve. Within the preserve, runners will be on the Libby Trail. Leaving the trails, runners will exit the preserve and return along Roberts Road to Route 118 to the park and finish line via the School House Gate. Course maps are available on www.norwaytri.com.

Spectators can make their way by carpool, foot, bike or boat towards Pennesseewassee Park on Saturday morning, said Dassler. The event takes about three hours from the start of the first swim heat to the time all competitors cross the finish line.

The best viewing for the swim leg is at the beach or from a boat outside of the swim course area.

The best viewing for the bike leg would be anywhere along the Greenwood road, perhaps at Norway Center Road or Morse Corner, she said.

The best viewing for the run race would be at Roberts Road south of the Preserve entrance, at the Lake Store, or within the Park. Spectators are asked to stay off the race course at all times for safety.

Parking along the westbound lane of the Lake Road will be prohibited west of Roberts Road to beyond the Pennesseewassee Park entrance. Volunteers-only parking at the School House until noon. Competitor-only parking only in Pennesseewassee Park until noon Saturday. Additional parking is available at Roberts Farm Preserve.

The public boat ramp will be closed the morning of the triathlon until noon. The Norway Lake Marina will be open. All Norway Lake Marina users are asked to use extreme caution during the swim leg of the Triathlon, 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday. Marina parking lot access will also be controlled during the running event, about 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

There are still openings for volunteers, said Dassler. Volunteers need to attend a meeting Friday, July 13, at 6 p.m. in Pennesseewassee Park and most will need to be on site from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Anyone interested should call 739-2124 or email wflt@megalink.net.

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