Locals compete in mini-triathlon

Nine-year-old Chelsea Bradley competed along with about 30 individuals and 10 teams, mostly locals, in the fifth annual Sisters Athletic Club "Try a Tri" mini-triathlon held Saturday, June 6.

The event, designed to introduce people to the triathlon experience, included a 425-yard swim, 12-mile bike ride and three-mile run.

Bradley, the youngest participant, competed solo, along with her grandmother, Terri Gallegly, who came up with the idea originally.

"I had to talk her into the bike portion, but once she decided to do the whole thing everything worked out," she said. "She couldn't wait to go show her teacher and classmates at the elementary school her prize for winning first place in her age group."

As it turned out, it was the running portion of the race that turned out to be the biggest challenge for Bradley.

"I wasn't really prepared for how tired I felt at the end of the triathlon," she said.

Tate Metcalf confirmed that the event lived up to its name: well over half of the participants were trying a triathlon for the first time.

"It's really something most any active person can get through, either by joining a team or trying the whole thing," he said.

The top overall individual, Ed King, of Sisters, clocked 1:06:55 in what turned out to be a fairly tight competition. Mark Reifschneider, who started in a separate wave from King, had the second best time of the day at 1:07:19.

Other top individual males included Cailen McNair, who won the 20-29 division in 1:08:03 and Bill Willitts who won the 60-69 division in 1:22:50.

Khiva Beckwith, 34, placed first among individual women in 1:14:01, while Robin Buckles pulled through with the second best women's time en route to winning the 50-59 division in 1:16:26. Kristy Hessman won the 20-29 division in 1:23:07.

Eric Lund, a sophomore at Sisters High School, ran the final leg for the team Triple Threat.

"This is the first time I have ever been involved in a triathlon, and it's definitely a new experience," he said.

For many participants the triathlon provided a beginning to the summer racing season, while others jumped in at the last minute just for fun. Sally Taylor-Pillar, who battled May Fan throughout the race in the women's 40-49 division before coming up 12 seconds short, said "It was a fun, friendly format and Tate did a great job in setting the right tone, since there were so many first-timers."

It was Taylor-Pillars third triathlon.

Jaquie Zenck won the 40-49 female division in a fine time of 1:18:36.

Marti Dale, a physical education and health teacher at Sisters Middle School who finished third in the 50-59 division, said,"I had a lot of fun and felt a tremendous support. Plus, doing a triathlon boosts your self esteem."

Winter Lewis captained the Sneak Attack All-Stars team that included Scott Buckles on the run and master's swim specialist Tom Landis. The threesome won in 55:01, just under a minute ahead of Team PWH, comprised of Parker Bennett, Hillary Johnson and Ted Ford.