Ten Sea to Sky athletes took part in Ironman Canada in Penticton on Sunday, with nine of the athletes reaching the finish line.
The top time for Whistler athletes was posted by Mike Edwards, an Ironman veteran who has taken a few years off competing. He placed 105 th in the men's 40 to 44 race in a total time of 11 hours, 47 minutes and 40 seconds. He finished the 3.8 km swim in 1:12:16, the 180 km bike in 5:44:56 and the 42.2 km run in 4:37:23.
Next to the finish line was Cristina McKean, who placed 15 th in the women's 25 to 29 race with a total time of 11:49:00. She had a fast swim, emerging from the water in 1:08:52, followed by a bike leg of 6:06:17 and a run of 4:23:15.
Nicole Waine competed in the same category, placing 57 th . She completed the race in 14:20:21 with solid times in all three disciplines.
Taralyn Day placed 95 th in the competitive women's 30 to 34 category with her time of 14:48:00.
From Pemberton, Nancy Johnston completed her first Ironman in a time of 12:43:56, placing 39 th in the women's 40 to 44 age category.
She knew it would be tough, but the energy of the other racers and the enthusiasm of the crowds and her supporters helped her through her low points to the finish line.
"There's just amazing energy, it's kind of hard to explain," she said. "The swim, there's over 2,600 people starting the swim and it's just amazing to see. Then the number of people out there on bikes - I've done that ride solo and it's not as much fun as when there are lots of people out there, and crowds on the side of the road in every town and on the big climbs. There are cars driving by honking for you, and it's just amazing."
The run was the toughest part of the race for Johnston, who beat her time goal for the swim and met her goal on the bike leg. "It was definitely the hardest, right up until the last three miles when the streets are just lined with people, and they're all calling out your name because it's written on your bib. There's music and you can hear the announcers, and the last section on Lakeshore Drive is just incredible motivation."
From Squamish, Volker Schneider placed 51 st out of 354 athletes in the men's 40 to 44 category with his time of 10:56:07. He finished the swim in 1:12:00, had an excellent bike time of 5:24:38 and completed the marathon in 4:07:34.
Timothy Moore placed 53 rd out of 314 athletes in men's 45 to 49 in a time of 11:21:05, boosted by a strong swim time of 1:05:18.
Zak Gilson was 236 th in men's 35 to 39 in a time of 13:14:21, and Daniel Stiner was 74 th in the men's 55 to 59 category in 15:39:59.
American Jordan Rapp won the men's elite title in a time of 8:25:13, while Jasper Blake was the top Canadian in fourth place in 8:48:29.
Tereza Macel of Canada won the women's event in 9:11:20, with Canadians Janelle Morrison and Tara Norton third and fifth with times of 9:48:54 and 9:59:42.
The celebration after the race was overshadowed by the death of one participant, 66-year-old Walter Wiwchar of Fort Saskatchewan. Wiwchar was pulled from the water by a police boat, but attempts at reviving him failed. It was the first death in the event's 27 years.
