Maddox Russell crushed the 5K ERG so fast that his teammates never lost the lead. The rowing team member, paired with runner Joobin Ataian and paddler Robbie Moralice, won the overall team title at the Newport Aquatic Center's 2nd Annual JVC Rodeo on Sunday, July 26.

The triathlon-style race honors Jon Van Cleave, a NAC co-founder who died in July 2023. Van Cleave was a pararescue jumper, Olympian, gold-medal athlete, attorney, and pilot who spent decades shaping the center's programs alongside fellow co-founder Billy Whitford. As we reported July 17, NAC has said its story "cannot be told without mentioning JVC."

The format: a 5K ERG row, a 5K run, and a 5K paddle, with racers choosing from craft including OC1, V1, surfski, prone board, SUP, or kayak. Competitors enter as three-person relay teams or go "iron" and complete all three disciplines solo. Winners are determined by cumulative time.

Russell finished the ERG minutes ahead of the field, according to the center's recap. Moralice, NAC's manager and a canoe and kayak club member, paddled a K1 to seal the win.

Will Reichenstein, NAC's outrigger coach, finished first in the iron division and second overall. He overtook collegiate rower turned paddler Allen Reitz midway through the paddle leg by racing a surfski instead of an OC1.

"I had to race surfski! It was the only way I was going to beat Allen!" Reichenstein said after finishing. "I wouldn't have caught him if I went OC1, he's too fast on the ERG!"

Reitz nearly held on. He had led from the opening ERG through the run and into the paddle on his OC1 before Reichenstein closed the gap on the faster craft.

In the junior rowing team division, the trio of Kyla Winfield, Liz Renger, and Sophia Aminian took first, both junior teams racing Liteboat rowing singles on the water. The OC1 team title went to Stacy Mason, Krista Saito, and Emma Kubiak, who edged out the team of Jennifer Stucky, Emma York, and Bobbie Reichenstein after Mason passed Reichenstein one mile into the paddle.

Dani Hamilton was one of three women to race iron, completing the ERG, run, and OC1 paddle solo.

Families made a strong showing. NAC outrigger member Claudio D'Amico raced with his wife Priscila on the ERG and son Luca on the run, finishing fifth overall. Six seconds behind them, long-time NAC member Scott Granger teamed with daughter Blayke, who set a personal record on the 5K ERG, and son Smith for sixth place.

Organizers set up ERGs in boat bays 1 and 2 at the center's Whitecliffs Drive facility, hooking up every available fan to combat muggy heat. Cowbells clanged as the starter called "Ready, set, ERG!" and friends and family cheered from the sidelines. Racers received custom JVC Rodeo jerseys at registration and cooled down on the wash deck afterward with shaved ice from Maui Shaved Ice and barbecue from Blakes Place BBQ.

The event drew plenty of return racers in its second year, particularly in the iron category. No date has been announced for a third edition.