Milwaukee beaches reopen as USA Triathlon National Championships return to lakefront
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Three of Milwaukee's beaches are back open after the Milwaukee Health Department closed them Monday due to a sewer overflow.
The department tests water quality at Bradford, McKinley and South Shore beaches every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the summer.
By Wednesday, water quality levels were back to normal, allowing the beaches to reopen Thursday.
The improvement came just in time for athletes from across the country to make a splash on the lakefront as the USA Triathlon National Championships return to Milwaukee.
About 1,400 triathletes will be swimming in the harbor next to Discovery World, biking on Lincoln Memorial Drive and running from Lakeshore State Park to Veterans Park.
"It's this really mixed blend of endurance and speed at the same time," said Steven Meyers, the event's communications director.
This is the eighth time the event has been held in Milwaukee.
"People in Milwaukee are so welcoming — spectacular place to race, and it's just been a lot of fun," said competitor Chaz Bickers of Evanston, Illinois.
This year's event brings about 1,000 more participants than last year, with athletes hoping to qualify for the World Championship in Canada next year.
"We have athletes from all 50 states. We do have a couple international athletes as well," said Brian D'Amico, the director of events. "This is the big star on their calendar. This is the marquee event for them to attend."
Organizers call Milwaukee the perfect venue, with protected places to swim, bike, run and celebrate.
"It's really kind of a one-stop shop here on the lakefront," D'Amico said.
Organizers work closely with the city and county to prepare, including testing water quality, which became especially important when the beaches were closed to swimmers earlier this week.
"Health and safety is our number one priority always at these events, so that's why we do the water testing — not just during this week, but all summer leading up to this event, making sure the water quality is good for our athletes," Meyers said. "We're good to go. We got the final go-ahead from Milwaukee County Parks. We wouldn't be swimming otherwise."
The triathlon continues through Sunday, periodically closing Lincoln Memorial Drive to traffic.
Spectators are welcome and encouraged to stop by the lakefront to watch the competitors.