Hastings, Elmore top 30th Nelson Cyswog'n' Fun
By Bruce Fuhr
Stephen Hastings of Calgary and Malindi Elmore of Kelowna breezed over the picturesque Heritage City triathlon course to capture the top prizes in the respective men’s and women’s division at the 30th annual Cyswog’n’Fun Sunday at Lakeside Park.
Hastings finished under two hours, crossing the finish line at Lakeside Park in a time of one hour, 56.15 minutes.
Elmore, who had hoped to be in London at the Summer Games competing for Canada but is happy to have Nelson as her second choice, was the top female as the Okanagan triathlete came in at 2:12.53.
Elmore, a track specialist, failed to make the Canadian Olympic standard and was not promoted to Canada’s Track team even though the 32-year-old won Nationals in her event this year.
Yes I’d say I’m happy . . . because it’s always nice to win,” Elmore said after cooling down from the race in the transition area.
“It was a fun course today. It was a little hilly, tough run . . . tough swim.”
Joe Radench of Grande Prairie, Alta, was second behind Hastings with Eddie Smith of Penticton third.
Kyle Moore of Calgary was fourth with Seth Bitting of Rosslad coming in as the top local in fifth.
Defending champion Dallas Cain of Rossland did not enter the 2012 race.
Sarah MacArthur of Calgary was second behind Elmore.
The Okanagan’s Elmore, openly admitting the swim is not her strength, passed MacArthur at the five kilometer mark on the run to grab the women’s crown.
Top local athletes in the Olympic distance race were Ron Sherman in the men’s and Denise Uhrynuk for the women.
Long course racers jumped into the waters of Kootenay Lake at 8 a.m. for the 1500 meter swim along the Nelson waterfront.
Stage two is the 39 km cycle along beautiful Kootenay Lake to Kokanee Park and back before completing the race with the 10 km run along the waterfront, around Anderson Street and then Nelson Avenue and across the orange bridge onto the rolling hills of Johnstone Road.
In the sprint event — 500 meters swim, 22 km ride and five km run — Graham Hood of Kelowna came in first ahead of Kirk Vandeweghe of Penticton.
The Locke boys — Julian and Peter— finished third and fourth with Duncan Banks of Penticton and John DeVries of Nelson fifth and sixth, respectively.
Stacy Osmond of Quesnel was the top female short course winner.
Jennifer Koga of Kelowna was second and Kathryn Noiles of Nelson third in women’s short course.
Team Caron won the Olympic Distance race over Tachophillics while Team Yolo topped Under 16 Division and Team Stupar won the Open division.
The race attracted more than 300 competitors for the 30th annual event, which, once again, was held under sunny skies.
