By Brendan Connarton

Contributing Writer

The nine-time defending Glimmerglass Triathlon champions will have a new look this year.

Canoeist Dale Persons and cyclist Glenn Swann will have two new partners for the 24th annual event, which starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Glimmerglass State Park.

Last year, Persons, Swann, Bob Zaveral and Fred Joslyn won the four-man team race in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 46 seconds. This year will be different, though, as Zaveral and Joslyn have prior commitments and will not compete.

"I’m going to pass up Glimmerglass because I just don’t have time to train," said Mount Upton resident Za[an error occurred while processing this directive]veral, 53, who will watch his son Ryan race motocross this weekend. "Motocross is taking up all my time."

Zaveral shares the top spot in the General Clinton Canoe Regatta’s 700 Club — at 2,450 miles — with Oneonta resident Ted LaMonica. His replacement for the Glimmerglass’ opening 5-mile canoe sprint is Otego resident and 22-time Clinton finisher Mike Packard, Persons said.

Swann will take the second leg of the race, a 26-mile bicycle trek, before Ken Little takes over for Binghamton resident Joslyn on the closing 5-mile, out-and-back run.

"Fred told us about a guy he knows, Ken Little," Persons said. "I don’t know a lot about him, but I hope he’s fast.

"We know that eventually the streak has to come to an end, but were trying to hold off as long as we can," Persons continued. "I don’t think it’s anything like (28-time Clinton winner) Serge Corbin, but it’s kind of fun to be involved on a winning team."

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Oneonta resident Mark Gobel, 51, won the overall Iron Male championship last year in 2:48:02. Gobel, who won his only other Glimmerglass title in 1984, finished first in a field of 31.

Laura Spector of Lenox, Mass., won the overall Iron Female title, finishing in 2:54:52. Spector, 18, also won in 2003 as a first-time participant. She did not compete in 2004.

Race director Dave Peterson said 85 teams were registered as of Monday, and that he expected about 120 by race day.

"It’s a very popular event," Peterson said. "A lot is localized, but we get people from all over the northeast. We even have a team coming from Colorado."

Individuals and teams still can register for the triathlon Saturday and Sunday.