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Squamish triathlon draws record turnout

Despite the fact it had to compete with the World Triathlon Championships in Edmonton last weekend, the fourth annual Squamish Triathlon on July 22 shattered all previous attendance records.

Despite the fact it had to compete with the World Triathlon Championships in Edmonton last weekend, the fourth annual Squamish Triathlon on July 22 shattered all previous attendance records.

More than 430 athletes turned out to the 2001 event, compared to just over 300 entries a year ago.

"It’s been increasing every year. We weren’t sure how many people we would lose to the World Championships, so many people have qualified, but this was our best year ever," says Peter Hotston, an organizer for the event.

Hotston credits the increasing numbers to the growing reputation of the Squamish Triathlon and to the growing popularity of the sport itself.

"You can tell by the excellent times that people have been training," he said.

Although Darren Mealing of Delta, B.C. started off almost two minutes back of Greg Stubbs after the 1.5 kilometre swim, he gained in the 40 km bike and 10 km run to win this year’s Squamish Triathlon with a time of 1 hour, 58 minutes. He finished third the previous year.

Second place went to Paul Cross of Vancouver who posted top 10 performances in every leg to finish 1:59:00. Stubbs, from Victoria, held on to finish third overall with a time of 2:00:37.

In the women’s competition, Victoria’s Melanie McQuaid – a veteran of the Xterra off-road triathlon circuit and a pro road racer and mountain biker – finished well ahead of the competition with a time of 2:06:26. Kristine Chambers of Vancouver was second overall with a time of 2:08:40, and Yvonne Timewell of Port Moody was third in 2:09:24.

Squamish’s own Gordon Addison was the big story of the day, racing in the World Championships the day before and finishing 26 th , then flying back to Vancouver and racing the Squamish Triathlon with only two hours sleep. He finished first in the men’s 35 to 39 division, and sixth overall with a time of 2:02:00.

Dozens of Whistler racers competed in the Squamish Triathlon, with strong overall results. Paul Suter was the fastest entry, finishing 50 th overall and seventh in the Men’s 40 to 44 race with a time of 2:13:21.

Daniel Havens was the next Whistlerite in the category with a time of 2:20:39.

Paul Nichols finished 76 th overall with a time of 2:17:43 in the 30 to 34 competition.

David Higgins finished 88 th overall in the same division, crossing the line in 2:19:55. Sandy Treagus finished in 2:35:39, and Jason Simpson in 2:44:31.

Francois Fournier posted a time of 2:19:26 in the 25 to 29 race.

Cam McCullough was fifth in the 55 to 59 category.

In the 60 and over race, Murray Coates finished third in 2:47:07.

Dawn Weberg-Titus was the fastest Whistler woman, finishing second in the 40 to 44 race with a time of 2:20:12. Christine Suter was next in the 30 to 34 race, third in her division and 15 th out of all women with a time of 2:20:39.

Marilyn Hellier finished at 2:31:03, Jackie Fulton at 2:43:13, and Brandi Higgins at 2:57:35 in the 30 to 34 race.

For the complete results, visit www.raceheadquarters.com.

Men 20 to 24

Greg Stubbs, Victoria – 2:00:37

Byron Wood, Vancouver – 2:01:42

Kertis Heidt, New Westminster – 2:09:43

Women 20 to 24

Kristine Chambers, Vancouver – 2:08:40

Sarah Stewart, Victoria – 2:15:07

Penny Lidstone, Vancouver – 2:16:15

Men 25 to 29

Jonathan Silcock, North Vancouver – 2:06:43

Paul Tyla, Coquitlam – 2:08:48

Dan Larche, Victoria – 2:12:25

Women 25 to 29

Melanie McQuaid, Victoria – 2:06:26

Christine Fletcher, Vancouver – 2:16:56

Cindy Blochl, Vancouver – 2:17:36

Men 30 to 34

Darren Mealing, Delta – 1:58:00

Paul Cross, Vancouver – 1:59:00

Alan Carlsson, North Vancouver – 2:01:13

Women 30 to 34

Yvonne Timewell, Port Moody – 2:09:24

Tracey Pope, Pemberton – 2:11:34

Christine Suter, Whistler – 2:20:39

Men 35 to 39

Gordon Addison, Squamish – 2:02:00

Matthias Jakob, Vancouver – 2:02:56

Max Waibler, Vancouver – 2:09:28

Women 35 to 39

Michelle Reaume, Coquitlam – 2:13:03

Leslie Achtem, Vancouver – 2:21:34

Terri Clapham, Shawnigan Lake – 2:26:36

Men 40 to 44

Patrick Turner, Vancouver – 2:07:03

Mark Shorter, North Vancouver – 2:09:48

Michael McGee, Maple Ridge – 2:10:22

Women 40 to 44

Jill Lawson, North Vancouver – 2:11:59

Dawn Weberg-Titus, Whistler – 2:20:12

Janet Anderson, Vancouver – 2:25:23

Men 45 to 49

Jim Aberdeen, Surrey – 2:10:49

Duncan Robinson, Surrey – 2:23:25

Ken Adams, Garibaldi Highlands – 2:24:43

Women 45 to 49

Pamela Atwood, Phoenix, Ariz. – 2:38:10

Aenea Cameron, Squamish – 2:42:45

Lynn McPhillips, Surrey – 2:57:12

Men 50 to 54

Jim Farney, Gilbert, Ariz. – 2:29:44

Richard Scott, Garibaldi Highlands – 2:32:07

Alan Sieben, Vancouver – 2:32:44

Women 50 to 54

Gwyn Woodson, Victoria – 2:27:52

Bonny Ervin, Royston – 2:44:01

Helle Wilburn, Squamish – 2:44:59

Men 55 to 59

Brian Parkinson, Langley – 2:22:06

Don McIntosh, Port Coquitlam – 2:30:18

Doug Fox, Squamish – 2:34:25

Men 60 Plus

Mick Maguire, North Vancouver – 2:34:17

John Siemens, Comox Valley – 2:35:10

Murray Coates, Whistler – 2:47:07

Women 60 Plus

Mae Palm, Squamish – 2:54:48

Team Relays, Co-ed

Eagle Run Coffee, Garibaldi Highlands – 2:03:03

Team Harmell, Edmonton, AB – 2:05:56

Franks/Woo/Johnston, Vancouver – 2:16:01

Team Male

Cutting Edge Painting, Garibaldi Highlands – 2:07:21

Last Minute, Vancouver – 2:12:10

Strezlow/Chung/Taylor, Vancouver – 2:20:43

Team Female

Sports Divas, Brackendale – 2:18:57

Essential Service, Squamish – 2:31:08

Top Guns, Vancouver – 2:35:11