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Whistler athletes on Squamish Tri podium

Nine trips to the stage for local triathletes

Registration for the 2010 running of the Squamish Triathlon was down considerably from previous years, something the organizers have attributed to the cold spring and the sheer number of events out there, including half irons, sprint races and off-road triathlons. The Triathlon B.C. calendar lists 28 races between the months of June and July.

But while the numbers may have been down, the competition last weekend was as strong as ever. Members of the Whistler Triathlon Club had a particularly strong day, with almost every racer finishing on a podium.

The overall winner this year was Ian Young of Vancouver, who completed the 1,500 metre swim, 37 km bike and 10 km trail run in a total time of 1:54:11. He also won the Male 30 to 34 category.

While Young had a nearly three and a half minute lead after the bike stage, Squamish's Jan Francke - who won the Whistler Valley Trail Run at the end of May - nearly caught Young on the run. Francke finished second overall in 1:55:35, winning the male 25 to 29 race.

Vancouver's Ryan Smiley, also in 25 to 29, was a distant third in 2:02:38.

Victoria's Sarah Baker was the top female racer, eighth overall, completing the course in 2:09:46. She also won the women's 25 to 29 race.

Kristina Bangma of Vancouver was the second female - and 28 th overall - finishing in 2:22:42. She won the women's 35 to 39 age category.

Whistler's own Claire Daniels placed 31 st overall and was the third female racer to the line in 2:23:04 while winning the women's 20 to 24 age group.

The previous week Daniels completed her first Half Iron in Vancouver, racing in the Vancouver International Half Iron where she placed second in her age group.

Daniels competed in her first triathlon in Whistler when she was just eight years old, and joined the Whistler Tri Club in high school. She has been busy in recent years with school - last year completing degrees in geography and environmental studies at the University of Victoria - but always tried to fit in at least one triathlon a year.

"I had some extra time this spring that I haven't had in a while so I got into training a bit more to do the half iron, which was something I've been working up to," she said. "Now I have more time I can focus on doing more triathlons."

She's planning to do at least one more Olympic distance race this year, but says it will likely be a few years before she attempts an Ironman.

"Right now it's just a lifestyle thing for me and a fun little outlet," she said.

Daniels enjoyed Squamish this year, although she lost ground on the run when the sun came out and the temperature jumped. "I was a little slower than I expected on the run, but the swim was good and the ride was really fun and in the end I was quite a bit faster than I've done the race in the past. That's good to know, and was feeling good afterwards."

Daniels says she enjoys the triathlon community in town around the Whistler Tri Club, and the range of ages and abilities with the group.

"There are a lot of inspirational people in this community, which is what makes the club so special," said Daniels. "When I used to train with them in high school it was neat to have all these people to look up to, and who would always help you out."

The top Whistler athlete overall was David Higgins, who placed 11 th overall and third in the male 40 to 44 race in 2:11:58.

It was Higgins's first triathlon since injuring a disk in his back in 2008, and by that measure it went as well as could be expected.

"I haven't done any triathlons in two years, so it was good," he said. "I'm not really killing myself in training because I'm still trying to rehab the back, and I'm still not on the bike very much. It went pretty well. I felt good on the swim, but around the third lap of the bike course I started feeling it a little.

"But I was having fun, it's a fun race and I'm actually feeling pretty excited to race again."

Higgins is being cautious going forward. He signed up for several races last year but always pulled out the week or days before with a sore back. This year he's waiting until the last minute to register for events. If his back feels well enough after Squamish he may race the Peach Classic Triathlon on Sunday, July 18.

Adam Ward was 14 th overall and second in male 20 to 24 in 2:14:29.

Greg Sandkuhl placed 30 th overall and first in male 65 to 69 in 2:23:02. Just two weeks earlier Triathlon B.C. presented Sandkuhl with its 2009 Gradmaster 60-plus Award in recogizition of his results the previous season in two sanctioned Half Iron races, the Canadian championships and the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Australia.

Christina McKean was second in female 25 to 29 in 2:30:46.

Frederic Jardot placed eighth in male 35 to 39 in 2:31:06.

Michel Berthoud placed 13 th in the same category in 2:35:10.

Karen Blaylock won the female 50 to 54 competition in 2:37:11.

Ryan Black was eighth in male 25 to 29 in 2:28:45.

Tom Barratt was fourth in male 55 to 59 in 2:45:09.

Linda Glenday was second in female 40 to 44 in 2:52:06.

Whistler also had a good day in the relays. The Internationals - James McCann, Jason Choo and Ken Berry -  placed first out of 10 teams in the men's relay category with a time of 2:12:44. They were followed by El Mentals and Bad Idea of Squamish in 2:20:36 and 2:26:42 respectively.

The Tri Mammas - Talya Shore, Marie-Anne Prevost and Tami Mitchell - won the women's relay category, also 10 teams, with a time of 2:41:53. They were followed by the Squamish AARM Dental team in 2:45:02 and the Lean Mean Triathlon Machine of Squamish in 2:51:04.

Team GymSkinZ2.com and Peak Centre 2 won the mixed category in 2:08:23. The Callaghan Winter Sports Club of Squamish was second in 2:09:13.

Whistler's Go Man Go - Bob Deeks, Kai Riess and Christine Prevost - was 11 th in 2:49:03.

Desert Half results

The Squamish Triathlon wasn't the only multi-sport event taking place last weekend, with the Desert Half Iron in Osoyoos also taking place on Sunday. The course included a two kilometre swim, 90 km bike and 21.1 km run. Temperatures were in the mid-30s.

Taralyn Day of Whistler was 10 th in women's 30 to 34 in 7:19:50.

From Squamish, Kevin Graham was 92 nd overall and 15 th in the men's 35 to 39 age category in 5:42:26.

Peter Henderson was 35 th in men's 40 to 44 in 6:44:29.