Olympic-style Rocketman Triathlon attracts over 100 local athletes

HUNTSVILLE – Madison residents fared well at the running of the 2026 Rocketman Triathlon held on Redstone Arsenal with the swim portion of the three-sport race dipping into the Tennessee River.

Overall race winner was Nathan Pierce. The 40-year resident of Huntsville and part of the workforce on Redstone Arsenal posted a winning time of 1-hour, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. It was Pierce’s third victory in six tries in the race hosted by the Team Rocket Tri Club.

For Madison, Julie Vieselmeyer was tops in the female division after racing through the course in a time of 2:27:10. The 45-year old completed the course, which included a 1,640yard swim, 25-mile bike ride and 6.1-mile run, nearly three minutes ahead of the second participant from Madison in Tayana Castelli, who finished 14th in the women’s division with a time of 2:30.01. Vieselmeyer completed the swim portion of the event in 23:18, the bike in 1:13:31 and run with a time of 47:02.

As for the men’s division, 28-year old Matthew Fletcher was the top finisher from Madison as he claimed third place at 2:11.09. In sixth place overall was Jacob Garcia. The 27year old Madison resident was the second from Madison in the event with a finish time of 2:19:03. Fletcher posted times of 19:32 in the swim, 1:06:55 on the bike and 42:09 in the 10K run.

Starting participants numbered 113 in the traditional Olympic distance triathlon.