Athletes test themselves in local race

Sisters Athletic Club's annual mini-triathlon attracted a host of local athletes on Saturday, some of whom took part in a duathlon that was added this year.

Josh Nordell, 32, showed his endurance and versatility in capturing first-place honors overall in the triathlon, finishing the 450-meter swim, 12-mile bike and three-mile run in one hour, one minute and 12 seconds (1:01:12), over four minutes ahead of his closest competitor. Camp Sherman resident, Alan Dale, took third place (1:06:25), followed by Grant Cyrus in 1:08:42.

The top female finisher, Jacquie Zanck of Sisters, finished 12th overall in 1:14:32.

In the duathlon, which included a two-mile run, 12-mile bike and three-mile run, Ashley Nordell finished first overall in 1:17:37, a mere warm-up compared to the 100-mile Big Horn endurance race she will compete in later this month in Wyoming.

Kyle Stevens finished second overall in 1:25:41, followed by Bill Willitts, 63, in third in 1:27:34, which was pretty impressive for Willitts considering 30 years separated the two men's ages. The youngest finisher, Chelsea Bradley, 10, finished in 1:47:47.

The triathlon team "The Boys" captured first place as a group in 59:23, while the duathlon squad "Team Thompson" took first in 1:14:44.

Race director Tate Metcalf of Sisters Athletic Club was very pleased with the turnout, which was comprised almost entirely of locals.

"We had 107 entries, which is about double last year, and the majority of them were locals, which is what we like," he said.

Complete results are available online at http://www.sisters

athleticclub.com.