Winning the Cyswog’n’Fun Triathlon is becoming a habit for Rossland’s Dallas Cain as he once again captured top spot overall in the annual race on Sunday.
It was Cain’s seventh trip to the top of the podium at the Nelson event as he completed the Olympic Distance 1.5 kilometre swim, 39 km bike, and 10-km run in a blistering two hours, five minutes and 52 seconds.
“I love this race . . . this is just awesome,” Cain told The Nelson Daily after breezing across the finish line. “I was in Calgary last weekend for the big Ironman 70.3. I would take this race any day. I just love it here. It’s great.”
Cain captured second in the 35-39 age category in Calgary and 26th overall, before returning to the Heritage City for his favourite race, joining over 180 athletes at Lakeside Rotary Park for the early morning start in the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.
“It seemed like everybody had smiles on their faces and was having fun,” race director Kim Irving told the Nelson Star. “There were people who were competing for the first time, others were just trying to finish, but then we also get pros like Dallas Cain at the other end of the spectrum . . . But everyone mixes together and cheers everyone on.”
Cain got off to a sluggish start in the water exiting in seventh place but more than made up for it in the bike as he took control of the race completing the 39-k ride up to Kokanee Park and back in 59 minutes. With a comfortable lead, the 36 year old then cruised the rest of the way finishing the 10-k in 41:10.
“The bike was awesome,” continued Cain. “Not much wind. Rolled along and caught up to the front of the race around Six Mile and then just tried to put as much time into the lead as I could. And the run, I had a feeling I had about a four or five minute lead so that made it very enjoyable.”
Fellow Rosslander, Seth Bitting, finished second overall at 2:13.33 and first in the Men’s 40-49 category, while Scott Nichol crossed the finish line in third spot with a time of 2:16.18.
In the Sprint distance, athletes undertook a 500-meter swim, 22-km cycle and a five-km run. Trail’s Jackson Konkin, who at 15-years-old received special permission to compete in the 16-and-over event, actually finished first overall but was penalized for going off course and had to settle for second spot. Bragg Creek’s Rob Roth, who competed in the Men 30-39 category, would take first place in a time of 1:09:40, five seconds ahead of Konkin.
It was Konkin’s first time competing in the triathlon, and, although he was disappointed by the result, he told the Star he was proud of his performance and plans to return next year.
Konkin also won the bronze medal at the Canadian U15 Triathlon championship in Magog, Que. last month.
Calgary’s Isabel Ramsay was the fastest woman in the Olympic event, coming in at 2:32:29 in the Women 20-29 category, while Suzie Poirier claimed second, and Carol Currie third.
Fourteen-year-old Sierra Cooper from Kimberley captured first place overall in the women’s Sprint distance, edging out Sarah Berrett and Danita Schreiber who finished second and third respectively.
Shona Lindsay, Darin Lindsay and Nelson’s Leanne Kalabis took top spot out of 14 teams in the triathlon, coming in at 2:25:05. They were five minutes ahead of both the second and third place teams, Tri Like A Girl and Fishryder Bailey, finishing at 2:30:51 and 2:30:56.
For more information and results visit the Cyswog’n’Fun website at trinelson.com.