Good things sometimes come in small packages!  Aaron had a good race at the Amica Triathlon Championships this weekend at Lake Pleasant. Excluding the 16 Pros that were racing for $20,000 there were 180 entrants racing the age group divisions, many winners from the 7 previous tri's held throughout the country for the series. Aaron (who is 11-editors note) had to move up 2 age groups and race in the 16 - 19 age category but that did not deter the little "Double AA" machine. After the Pros took off there was a mass start for the age groupers and the two Strada boys came out of the water in the front of the pack. Eric Yatko was the 3rd person onto the bike and out of transition, Aaron was 11th out of the water and 13th onto the bike and they were out onto the hills of Lake Pleasant Park. Due to some miss-directions from a course volunteer Eric was miss-guided and ended up having to take a DNF (This young man handled the defeat like a true sportsman. I'd take him on my team any day. Good job Eric). This left the race in the hands of the smallest and youngest competitor to push hard for the team. In the end Aaron Apel took 3rd place in the 16 - 19 age group even though he just turned 11 last month. and 60th overall. Oh ya.....Aaron's the little guy on the podium.