Wikipedia

Sara-Jane Cox-Conklin

Sara-Jane Cox-Conklin (Nee Cox) (born April 23, 1964) is a former British modern pentathlete and professional triathlete known for her significant achievements across twenty sports. She is the founder of the Burnham-on-Sea Swim & Sports Academy and has made substantial contributions to multi sport disciplines both in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Sara-Jane Cox-Conklin
Sara competing in Amami Ladies International Triathlon Japan
Born (1964-04-23) April 23, 1964 (age 60)
Bridgwater, Somerset
CitizenshipBritish
EducationMaster’s in clinical and experimental psychology
Occupation(s)Athlete, Businessperson
Known forAchievements across 20 sports

Early life and education

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Cox-Conklin was born on April 23, 1964, in Bridgwater, Somerset, England to Ann & David Cox. She grew up in the adjacent town of Burnham-on-Sea[1][2] and swam for Burnham Swimming Club,[3][4][5][6] winning her first medal in 1976.[7][5][8] She attended Rossholme School [9] King Alfred School 6th Form [1] and Bridgwater College, pursuing her education in various fields. She completed O Levels in multiple subjects (1982) and obtained A levels in Law (Grade A) & Economics (1984) and an Advanced Secretarial Diploma (First Class) [10] She later earned an HND in Business & Finance with Distinction (1992) at North East Worcester College,[11] and an MA in General Psychology specializing in Clinical and Experimental Psychology[12] graduating with honors in 1998 from the California Institute for Human Science.[7][13][14][15]

Sporting career

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Cox-Conklin represented the United Kingdom in various international competitions, including World Championships in locations such as Bensheim (1987),[16] Warsaw (1988),[17] Vienna (1989),[18] Linköping (1990),[19] Sydney (1991),[20][21]Budapest (1992) [22][23] Cancun (1995);[24] Hawaii (1999);[25] McCall (2008);[26] Monaco (2009) and Falun (2010).[27]

Modern pentathlon

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Cox-Conklin was a member of the National Squad for eight years (1986-1993),[6] representing Great Britain in European [28][20][29] World Championship & World Cup Events.[20][30][16][31][32] She was the British Champion and International Champion in 1990 (Wantage).[12][7][33][34] She was the runner-up in the British Championships in 1986, where her team secured the first place.[35] She won the Portuguese Open in 1987 [36][37] and placed third in the Vienna International in the same year and was a member of the 1st Place team.[16] As a member of Team GB, she placed fifth in the San Antonio International Cup in Texas [38] and sixth in the 1987 Royal Nordic Cup. At the 1988 World Championships her team placed 6th. In the 1992 World Team Championships the team placed 5th [39] In 1987, she won the 2,000m cross-Country run in a Women’s International Modern Pentathlon Competition in Italy.[40]

Triathlon - Amateur

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Sara was the ITU Triathlon World Amateur Age Group Champion in Mexico in 1995 (30-34).[24][12][41][42][43][44] In the same year she became the Southwest USA Regional Champion at Malibu, Triathlon.,[45] and won first place in the Carlsbad Triathlon [46] and Do the Tri in Camp Pendleton California.[47]

Triathlon - Professional

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In 1996, Cox-Conklin turned professional [43] She won the European Triathlon Union Prestige Cup in Aegina Island, Greece, and Ardennes, France, as well as the FTF Select Race in Tours France.[41] She was also the USA National Champion at the Pacific Grove Triathlon.[48] She secured several other international placements,[49] including third in the Amami International in Japan,[50] third in the International Women's Triathlon in Zurich, third in the Florida St. Augustine's Lighthouse International [51] third in the SETRIC Cup Belgrade International [52] and third in the Tahiti International. She placed seventh in the International Triathlon Union (ITU) New Zealand World Cup in 1996.[53][50]

Ironman Triathlon

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Cox-Conklin placed seventh in the 1999 Professional Lake Placid Ironman, ninth in Austria,[12] and twenty-eight in the Hawaii World Championships.[25]

Off-Road Triathlon

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Sara took first place at the Pacific Northwest Regional championships in Vashon Island, USA in 2005 [54] She placed 4th at Xterra Switzerland (2014), qualifying for the Xterra World Championships in Maui.[55]

Winter Triathlon

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She was the ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup & Pan American Champion, securing first place at Soldier Hollow (2010).[56]

Cross-country Skiing

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Cox-Conklin placed third at the USA Masters Nationals in Skiathlon[12] and competed for the GB Masters team in three World Cups. She placed seventh in the Masters World Cup (30k Classic) in 2008 in McCall [7] and tenth in the 30K Classic in Falun in 2010.[27]

Biathle

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In 2009, she placed third in the World Biathle Championships in Monaco, first in the Europa Cup in Italy, and was the GB National Series Champion, securing first place at Millfield, Weymouth, Portland, and Poole in the age group 45-49.[57]

Modern biathlon (Run/Swim)

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Cox-Conklin was the British Champion in 1985 and 2010.[58] She became the first International Biathlon Champion in Corby in 1990.[32]

Modern Triathlon (Run/Swim/Shoot)

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Sara won the Team National Triathlon Championships at Crystal Palace in (1984) [59] and won the Ladies Open Individual event at Southampton in 1986.[60]  She was the Southern Regional Individual Champion in 1989.[61]

Tetrathlon (Run/Swim/Shoot/Fence)

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Cox-Conklin achieved second place in the British Championships in 1988 (Yeovil).[62] and 3rd Place in 1986.[63]  She was a member of the winning team at the British Championships in 1985 at Bracknell. She won the Ladies event at the Open Army Invitational in 1987.[64]

Swimming

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Sara competed in the British Masters Championships in Swansea in 2014 at the age of 50-54, winning three bronze medals in the 100 and 200 Butterfly events & 200 Freestyle.[65] In 2014, she placed first in the Chamonix Masters 50 Butterfly, second in the 100 Butterfly, and third in the 200 Individual Medley.[66]

Open-Water Swimming

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Sara achieved first place at the inaugural Steart Island Swim (2000)[67] & was third at the Traversee du Lac d’Annecy (2014).[68]

Fencing

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Sara placed third in the National Epee Championships & Birmingham International Competition in 1993.[69] She was part of the National Epee Squad from 1988 to 1989[70] She won the 1989 Aldershot Open Epee Championship.[71] and the 1985 Somerset & Dorset County Championships. She placed 2nd at the Slough Open (1989)[72] and 2nd at the Clara Rayner Championships (1993) [69] In 1985 she represented MPAGB against Hongkong & the Royal Navy where she placed 3rd.[73]

Cross Country Running

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Sara was the South-West Cross Country Champion in 1983, winning first place in the Senior Ladies category in St Austell.[74] In 1981, Cox-Conklin represented Somerset Senior Girls in the English Schools Cross Country Championships in Exeter.[75]

Athletics - Track

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Cox-Conklin won the South-West Inter Counties Athletics Championships in 1983 in the Senior Girls 1500 Meters Event[76] She also won the 1500 & 3000 M County Championships and in 1986 the 800 M County Championships.[35][77] In 1984 she was selected to represent the South West Amateur Athletic Association in an inter-regional match in Wiltshire.[78]

Road Running

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She won Age-group championships in England & the United States. Notably, The Ironman California 5K (2000)[79] The Nisene Marks Marathon (2001),[80] and the Run for Britain 6-mile event in Burnham-on-Sea (1984).[10]

Duathlon (Bike/Run)

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Sara took first place at Lake Padden, Washington in 2005.,[81] In 1995 she achieved 4th place in the San Diego International Duathlon.[46]

Tennis

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She was the U18 County Doubles Somerset Champion (1981) [82] and the Veterans Ladies Somerset Champion in 2008.[83]

Golf

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Sara represented Somerset in the South west Seniors Inter-County Gross Team Championships (2023 & 2024).  She has achieved three “hole-in ones” (2021, 2022 2024) & won the Somerset County Fowler Brooches Foursomes Stableford (2018 & 2019) & County Bowmaker (2023).[84][85][86][87][88]

Superstars

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Sara won the King Alfred Sports Center Superstar championships 3 years in a row between 1983 – 1985).[2]

Corporate career

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Cox-Conklin worked at Microsoft Inc. as an Associate Program Manager and Executive Assistant, contributing to the World-Wide Security Incident Response Team and Communities Division.  She supported the Chief Security Strategist and other directors, managing communications and administrative tasks.[8]

Business venture

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Cox-Conklin founded the Burnham-on-Sea Swim & Sports Academy in 2008.The academy has played a significant role in promoting sports and physical fitness in the local community.[57][7][89][4][13][90][84][91]

Awards and recognition

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Sara-Jane Cox-Conklin has received several awards throughout her career, including the California Distinguished Research Award for her master’s Thesis on the "Personality Profiles of Elite Endurance Athletes."  the Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Outstanding Achievement Award, ASA Swim School of the Year (2012),[92][34] Burnham & Highbridge Civic Award 2014.[93]

References

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  1. ^ a b Burnham & Highbridge Gazette, Tues April 16, 1985
  2. ^ a b Superstars, once again its Peter & Sara Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News, June 1985
  3. ^ Burnham & Highbridge Gazette, June 1990
  4. ^ a b "Corks popped at SOS celebrations". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  5. ^ a b "SOS UPDATE - Victorious campaign brought to an end". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  6. ^ a b Burnham & Highridge weekly news May 22nd 1986
  7. ^ a b c d e Burnham-On-Sea.com (2008-04-08). "Meet the new bosses of Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  8. ^ a b Athlete returns to rescue pool, midsomernews May 2008
  9. ^ Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News, June 1985
  10. ^ a b March 19, 1984, Page 8, Fund-runners, Western Daily Press. 
  11. ^ Burnham & Highbridge Gazette, November 1991
  12. ^ a b c d e "Triathlon star Sara turns to ski-ing". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. 2006-03-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  13. ^ a b "Meet the new owners of Burnham Pool". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  14. ^ Triathlete Magazine July 1998
  15. ^ Triathlete Magazine July 1998, Full-time training and racing comeback for Cox
  16. ^ a b c July 23, 1987, Karswell, Philip, Page 26, Pegasus Girls Flying High, Western Daily Press
  17. ^ The Times 1988 August
  18. ^ The Times 1989 August 7th
  19. ^ August 22, 1990, page 29, Modern Pentathlon, The Daily Telegraph.
  20. ^ a b c September 24, 1991, Mike Harris & Martin Roberts, City Trio Waiting, The Gloucester Citizen
  21. ^ October 30, 1991, Page 37, The Daily Telegraph.
  22. ^ The Times Modern Pentathlon, October 1992
  23. ^ Daily Telegraph, Wed 7th Oct 1992 Modern Penathlon Budapest
  24. ^ a b Triathlon, World. "Sarah Cox (GBR)". World Triathlon. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  25. ^ a b  Burnham & Highridge weekly news Nov 12, 1999
  26. ^ Burnham-On-Sea.com (2008-03-03). "Burnham-On-Sea skier clinches top ten place at World Cup". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  27. ^ a b "Previous MWCs". bmccsa. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  28. ^ July 1989, Super 5 Frankfurt, Pentathlon Moderne ET Biathlon News
  29. ^ Modern Pentathlon, Daily Telegraph, 27th May 1993 (European Champs)
  30. ^ August 22, 1990, page 29, Modern Pentathlon, The Daily Telegraph
  31. ^ October 30, 1991, Page 37, The Daily Telegraph
  32. ^ a b Corby warmth earns more sporting Kudos, Evening Telegraph, April 3rd 1990
  33. ^ May 28, 1990, Modern Pentathlon. Cox Controls Horse and Scores Double, The Times Newspaper
  34. ^ a b The Reading Chronicle, June 1990
  35. ^ a b May 23, 1986, Page 18, North Dorset Western Gazette.
  36. ^ Evening Echo May 1988
  37. ^ The Times May 1988
  38. ^ Modern Pentathlon, University of Bath Archives, H/2/763 San Antonio Cup,  Results lists, Second San Antonio Cup, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 23 March 1988.
  39. ^ "MPAGB - the UK Modern Pentathlon Roll of Honour".
  40. ^ Athletics Weekly Magazine, April 1983
  41. ^ a b February 1997, John Williams, Mind Over Matter, Triathlete Magazine
  42. ^ January 1996, World Triathlon Championships, Triathlete magazine
  43. ^ a b October 1996, Page 8, Rencontre: Sara Jane Cox, Tribulations
  44. ^ Triathlete Magazine January 1996
  45. ^ Michael Epstein Sports productions official race results, September 1995 & Certificate Malibu
  46. ^ a b A Change of Pace, Davis, California, Carlsbad Triathlon Results
  47. ^ Camp Pendleton Do the Tri Results 1995, Official race results, Camp Pendleton, California
  48. ^ Triathlete Magazine December 1996
  49. ^ April 29, 1996, page 47, Welch Puts Retirement to Rest, Tempa Bay Times.
  50. ^ a b Triathlete Magazine Jan 1997, Brits Abroad
  51. ^ Lighthouse Triathlon, Tampa Bay times,15 Sept 1996
  52. ^ Triathlete (French) No 114October 1996, Page 74, Coupe d’europe Du Sud-est Triathlon
  53. ^ https://www.triathlon.org/files/events/rankings/archive/iturankswinrk2010f.pdf
  54. ^ 76.    Race Results | BuDu Racing, LLC  Select 2005, August then Vashon Island Off-Road Triathlon and you can see I won the Age Group division 40-44  20050710_92.xls (live.com)
  55. ^ mso.swiss Xterra Classic results 2013
  56. ^ Triathlon, World. "Results: 45-49 Female AG | 2010 Soldiers Hollow Midway ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup and Pan-American Championships". World Triathlon. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  57. ^ a b Burnham-On-Sea.com (2009-09-20). "Burnham-On-Sea athlete wins bronze medal for Great Britain". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  58. ^ Burnham-On-Sea.com (2010-07-08). "Burnham sportswoman becomes British biathlon champion". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  59. ^ Somerset County Gazette, May 1984
  60. ^ Sara’s Success.  The Western Gazette 1986, 31st Jan 1986 – Personal Best
  61. ^ Modern Pentathlon, University of Bath Archives, H/2/807 Results Lists, Souther Region Modern Triathlon Qualifying, 5th March 1989
  62. ^ Modern Pentathlon, University of Bath Archives, H/2/801 International/Domestic June - Nov 1988 British Modern Tetrathlon Championships Modern Pentathlon Collection - Archives Hub (jisc.ac.uk)
  63. ^ A new discipline for Pegasus, North Dorset Western Gazette, 9th May 1986
  64. ^ Pegasus Winners, North Dorset Western Gazette, March 27, 1987
  65. ^ "Masters Results | Swim England". www.swimmingresults.org. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  66. ^ "From Zero To Hero For Closure-Threatened Pool". Pool and Spa Scene. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  67. ^ August 11, 2000, Page 18, Double Trouble, Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News. 
  68. ^ Burnham & Highbridge Gazette, November 1983
  69. ^ a b January 1994, Competition Results, The Sword
  70. ^ The Sword, November 1998
  71. ^ January 16, 1989, The Fencing Article by Bill Meredith, The Telegraph
  72. ^ January 1989, Competition Results, The Sword - Slough Epee 2nd
  73. ^ Modern Pentathlon, University of Bath Archives, A/6/59 MPAGB Broadsheet, 22, November 1985
  74. ^ February 1982, Cross Country Championship, Burnham & Highbridge Gazette
  75. ^ English schools Athletic Association, Official Program 7th March 1981
  76. ^ Somerset County Gazette, August 1983
  77. ^ On right road with new track, North Dorset Western Gazette, May 23, 1986 800 m
  78. ^ Wiltshire AAA v South West AAA v Southern AA, Programme 28th April 1984
  79. ^ Ironman 5k, Ironkids 1k draws big crowd for debut.  North County Times, 21st May 2000
  80. ^ June 08, 2001, Page 33, McMorries, Ben, Nisene Marks Marathon Record Broken, Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  81. ^ 2005-padden-mtb-duathlon.pdf (cob.org)
  82. ^ Burnham & Highbridge Gazette, August 1981
  83. ^ "Nicole, 15, wins county ladies' tennis title". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  84. ^ a b Golf Somerset Bowmaker https://www.somersetladiesgolf.org/bowmaker.html
  85. ^ https://www.somersetladiesgolf.org/uploads/1/2/7/5/127527118/archives_fowler_brooches_2024.pdf
  86. ^ "South West Gross Team Champs". www.glcga.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  87. ^ Burnham & Berrow enjoy success at home Burnham and Highbridge weekly news, April 11th 2019
  88. ^ "Login Required - Burnham and Berrow Golf Club". burnham.intelligentgolf.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  89. ^ "Swimming pool saved from closure". 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  90. ^ Burnham-On-Sea.com (2021-10-03). "Burnham-On-Sea Swim & Sports Academy boosted by new partnership deal". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  91. ^ 220 Triathlon Magazine  Aug 2013  After the Golf Rush Legacy. Case Study The Club
  92. ^ "Top gong for Burnham Swim and Sports Academy". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  93. ^ Burnham-On-Sea.com (2014-09-15). "In photos: Michael Eavis presents Burnham-On-Sea Civic Awards". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
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