Nathan Champness was back on top of the podium at Kin Beach Sunday.
Champness won his fifth Kal RATS Sprint Triathlon since 2010, and his first since 2014, finishing the Okanagan Landing course in 58 minutes, 41 seconds, the only competitor in the field of 117 to eclipse the one-hour barrier.
The five-time winner, who placed fourth a year ago, went wire-to-wire Sunday. He was first out of Okanagan Lake, having covered the swim in 10:45. Champness finished the bike course in 28:46 and completed a sub-20-minute run in 18:04.
Scott Tremblay of Kaleden was second in 1:02:11, 34 seconds ahead of Vernon’s Andrew Sellars.
Adam Bugera of Vernon cracked the top-10, finishing 10th in 1:07:07.
First woman across the line was Kelowna’s Carmelle Guidi-Swan in 1:08:09.
Vernon’s Melanie Spooner was fourth, 18th overall (and first in her F45-49 age group) in 1:11:46.
It was a big day for Craig and Judith Goplen of Vernon as the husband and wife duo won their respective 55-59 age groups.
Craig Goplen of Vernon won his age group, for the second year in a row, covering the course in 1:09:01, good for 13th overall. Judith was 65th overall in a time of 1:25:34.
Michael Cotie of Vernon took top spot among M50-54 competitors, finishing in 1:14:54 (27th overall), and Laura Medcalf was first in F35-39 in 1:14:23 (31st overall).
Also winning her age group (F65-69) was Hella Versfeld, who finished 79th overall in 1:32:40.
Other North Okanagan (Vernon, Coldstream and Armstrong) runners to complete the triathlon were Erica Moser, Virginia Sellars, Christa Miller, John Wilson, Alanna Simms, Bob Jackson, James Cotter, Carly Jewell, Mark Wehner, Vic Hospes, Angie Macdougall, Alex Wallace, Jordyn Ross, Morgan Lockhart, Jenna Cotter, Rhian Harrison, Rick Garner, Angela Ozero, Rex Schultz, Regula Arnold, Jason McIntyre and Casey Benz.
Two Vernon triathletes reached the podium in the Draft Legal category of the Paradigm Naturopathic Medicine Kids of Steel Triathlon Saturday at Kin Beach.
“Draft Legal is the new Olympic format where teammates can draft off one another on the bike course,” said Kit Johaneson with Kal RATS.
Hannah Mehain was fourth overall and the first woman to finish in 16-19 Division in 38:37.
Braden Kersey was third overall in the 13-15 Division in 38:11.
“There was great competition both days,” said Johaneson of the popular triathlon weekend.
A total of 170 took part in Kids of Steel.