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Whistler triathletes on the podium in Kelowna

Four of nine Whistler athletes made it to the podium at the Big White Kelowna Apple Triathlon last weekend. For several the Olympic-distance triathlon – 1.

Four of nine Whistler athletes made it to the podium at the Big White Kelowna Apple Triathlon last weekend.

For several the Olympic-distance triathlon – 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run – was the final tune up before this weekend’s Ironman in Penticton, and the results were encouraging.

Daniel Havens, who will be in his second Ironman, led the Whistler contingent, finishing 25th overall and third in his age category in a time of two hours, 14 minutes, 55 seconds.

Tracey Pope was the third woman overall and second in her age group, finishing in 2:20:11.

Dawn Wiberg-Titus’s time of 2:27:38 earned her top spot in her age category and 95 th place overall.

Bob Deeks was 98 th overall in a time of 2:27:45, and 16 th in his category.

Greg Sandkuhl just missed the podium, finishing fourth in his category and 130 th overall in 2:32:00.

The fourth Whistlerite on the podium was Christine Suter, who was second in her category and 143 rd overall, with a time of 2:33:52.

Marie-Ann Prevost was 155 th overall, and seventh in her category, in 2:35:02.

Kevin Smith finished in 2:44:39, which earned him 27 th place in his category and 252 nd overall.

Ian Reith’s time was 2:58:07, good for 54 th in his category and 381 st overall.

Smoke from forest fires hung in the air on Saturday, the day prior to the triathlon, but winds overnight and Sunday cleared the air, meaning breathing was not an issue for competitors. Race temperature at the start was about 30 C.

The swim course was changed from previous years, so that there was a 180-degree turn rather than three 45-degree turns. That change, combined with the current in the lake, disoriented many competitors who ended up swimming a longer distance than required.

Havens said the bike course was technical, with some 90-degree turns and three 180-degree turns. "You were in and out of the saddle a lot," he said.

The elite categories were claimed by Brent McMahon of Victoria and Gillian Moody of Kelowna, both of whom recently competed in the Pan American Games. McMahon’s time was 1:38.:13. Moody finished in 1:53:50.

There were 720 participants in the triathlon, which determined provincial champions, including 20 elites, 150 kids and 550 adult competitors.