The Batesville Parks and Recreation Department is hosting an Inaugural Indoor Triathlon to be held at the Batesville Community Center.
The City of Batesville Parks and Recreation Department is happy to announce the Inaugural Indoor Triathlon to be hosted at the Batesville Community Center September 22nd, 2018. The triathlon will consist of a 200-yard swim, 6-mile biking, and 1 and ½ mile running portion. In which all legs will be timed for each participant or relay team. Waves of 10 will begin every 30 minutes starting at 8AM, event check in and packet pick up is at 7AM. Registration is now open and all participants registered before September 12th will receive an event “Just Tri It” t-shirt. Awards will be given to the top two male and female participants in each of the following age groups 14&U, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+. Along with top 3 male and top 3 female overall. Male and female relays are also available for the inaugural event. Registration is $20 per participant and event deadline will be September 21st at 5PM. Sign up online at www.batesvilleparks.com or at the Community Center front desk.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.