MERRIMACK — Ethan Brown and Karin Biskovich can now say they have a few things in common.

Both are world class triathletes and both took home first place at Sunday's Ribfest 5-Miler at the 10th annual Rock'n Ribfest held at the Anheuser-Busch factory.

Weare's Biskovich finished 19th overall but was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 33:28.97 in the race that both started and ended at the foot of the factory.

“The course was good; it wasn't totally flat so it made it more challenging,” said Biskovich. “That first big hill was tough but it got the lungs warmed up.”

The 38-year-old ran a 6:43-per-mile pace.

Not too bad for someone who took first in Grantham's Eastman Splash, Mash, and Dash triathlon on Saturday. The sprint race was -mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, and 5K run.

Brown was the top overall finisher with a blazing time of 25:16.43, good for a 5:04 pace.

“I'm pretty tired, but I'm happy that I had a good run,” said the 27-year old former University of Michigan standout. “The run tied my personal best from college which was almost 10 years ago, so I'm glad that I'm still on top of my game.”

That might be an understatement.

The Lowell, Mass., product just competed in Olympic trials for the triathlon and was the fifth American finisher. Only the top two make it to London, but it's a huge accomplishment nonetheless.

With the 2012 Edmonton ITU Triathlon World Cup right around the corner for Brown, Sunday's race was a good tuneup.

“I do 10 to 15 triathlons per year and just two or three road races so it's good training for me to come just to get a fast open road race in,” Brown said.

The top New Hampshire finisher on the men's side was Brenden Repack, a Merrimack native fresh off wrapping up a successful cross country career at Division III Gettysburg College.

The 21-year-old finished in second place behind Brown with a time of 26:56.39 (5:24 pace).

“For the summer it's a good time, but it's not my best. I'm slowly working to get there, it's getting better,” said Repack, who last month received the Charles W. Beachem Athletic Award, given by Gettysburg to a male senior on the basis of character, scholarship and athletic achievement. “Today feels great. There's great people, great atmosphere. I loved running back to the starting line and having everyone cheering for me. It was just a great feeling.”

Repack was followed by Concord's Brian Lavoie (28:36.30), Milford's Jim Sullivan (29:33.23), and Manchester's Brandyn Naro (29:47.16). The next female finisher was New Boston's Cathleen Brown, who finished 33rd overall with a time of 34:49.86.

pdecola@unionleader.com