Editor’s note: The interviews in this story were done prior to the tragic news that a women competing in the relay portion of the triathlon had apparently suffered a cardiac arrest about 600 metres into the swim in the H2O pool and later died.
While the first outdoor triathlon of 2016 in the Okanagan attracted many elite athletes anxious to test their off-season training results, the third annual Kelowna Cherry Blossom Triathlon on Sunday maintained its “fun event” atmosphere.
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“This race definitely re-attaches you with your triathlon roots,” said Nathan Champness of Vernon, the first overall finisher in a record time of one hour one minute 35 seconds (1:01:35) over the course that included a 700-metre swim in the H2O pool, a 22-kilometre bike and 5 km run in and around the CNC.
“With all the athletes with different levels of abilities taking part, it’s certainly more of a community event rather than a ‘real race’ for the top competitors. But I love the family feel that I associate with triathlon.”
That said, Champness, 32 and now living in Kamloops, said that he wasn’t holding back in his bid to finish first and claim the $250 prize money — offered for the first time in the Cherry Blossom’s three-year history.
“When I see all the fabulous volunteers giving their best, I feel I should be doing my best as well,” said Champness, who won the inaugural race on a rainy day in 2014 in 1:03:38, but missed the 2015 race because he was competing in California.
Meanwhile, Malindi Elmore, a co-director of the Cherry Blossom — with James Young and her husband, Graham Hood — said that while the event has grown to include 280 participants (including relay teams), up from 167 two years ago, she felt the Blossom still had the sense of “an event” rather than just a competitive race.
The 2004 Olympian (1,500 metres), and now a triathlete herself, said organizers will be looking at their growth strategy going foward.
“We like the size and the feel of the event. There’s a nice energy here and we don’t want it to get so big that we lose the personal touch,” said Elmore. “We don’t want to make it bigger for the sake of being bigger. We want to make it better.”
Elmore was particularly pleased with the increase in the number of participants trying the sport for the first time.
“A big part of our goal is to attract new people to the sport, so having about 35 first-timers this year is really exciting for us. It’s great to see them show up eager, proud — and sometimes very nervous — at having set their goal and being ready to do their best and take up the new challenge.”
On the more competitive side, Champness recorded the fourth-best swim time of 9:53 in the H2O pool, but posted the top time on both the bike (32:23) and on the run (17:36).
For the 32-year-old, Sunday’s race that included 197 individual competitors was a part of a season training session that will see him compete in Ironman Canada in Whistler on July 24. He also has a return trip to the Ironman-distance Challenge Penticton on Aug. 28 on his calendar.
As for Sunday’s sprint, Champness said he was pleased with the result.
“It was bang on for me. My coach and I are happy where my fitness is, but really today was about having fun . . . soaking in the sun and the great atmosphere.”
Cory Krist (35-39 division) of Kelowna placed second overall in 1:04:12, while Chilliwack’s Anthony Toth (35-39) crossed in fourth place overall in 1:04:58. Rounding out the top 10 were Chad Reid (Vancouver), Loren Nelson (Kelowna), David Matheson (Penticton), Patrick Howell (Dawson Creek) Ian Crosthwaite (Kelowna), John White (Salmon Arm) and Sam Lazar (Salmon Arm).
Janae Hoel of West Kelowna led the female competitors with a 17th overall finish of 1:13:10, while Jessica Deglau of Kelowna (35-39 division) placed second among the women in 1:13:27. Amanda Kosmerly (45-49) of Kelowna finished in third place among the women with a clocking of 1:17:30.
For Hoel, her time was more than three minutes faster than her third-place finish of a year ago.
She attributed her improvement to her training with BalancePoint coaches Luke Way and Andrew Sellars, as well as Liquid Lightning Swim Club coach John Douglas.
“They all have been great it improving my technique and building fitness,” said the 17-year-old, whose time on Sunday was her best ever in a sprint-distance race. “Although this was my first event of the year, and it took some time to get my legs into it, it was a solid race in that I was able to build up my speed on the bike and the run as the race went on.”
Hoel, who moved to the Central Okanagan from Three Hills, Alta. less than three years go, will compete in the new B.C. elite junior triathlon series this year in preparation for the national junior elite championships in Edmonton in early September.
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