Pumped up for the Challenge
5th annual triathlon has about 475 competitors this year
Although most triathlon fans in the valley are focused on next month's ITU Multi-Sport championships, Challenge Penticton is very much alive and well.
The starter's gun for the fifth annual race goes Sunday at 6:30 a.m. near The Peach at Okanagan Lake in Penticton. Triathletes will begin crossing the finish line on Lakeshore Drive, near Gyro Park, starting around 10 a.m.
A total of $15,000 in cash prizes is up for grabs for professionals in what will be a half-iron distance featuring a two-kilometre swim, 93-km bike ride and 21.1-km run.
Additionally there will be a standard race (1.5 km , 46.5 km, 10.5 km), aqua bike (two-km swim and 93-km bike) and half relay.
“Between all of the events we have about 475 competitors registered ... a lot of relays this year,” organizer Michael Brown said. “We have a ton of volunteers, some good athletes coming and there's going to be a great vibe at the finish line so we hope people come out, enjoy the day, and cheer on our athletes.”
Defending champion Jeff Symonds of Penticton confirmed this week he’ll be back to defend his title. Other front-runners include Kelowna’s Shawn Wilyman, who earlier this season won the Oliver Wine Capital triathlon and the Gerick Sports WASA triathlon in Cranbrook. Nathan Killam of Vancouver, who won this year’s Great White North triathlon in Stony Plain, Alta., will also compete on Sunday.
In the women’s field, front-runners include Americans Kelly Dunleavy O’Mara from San Francisco and Mackenzie Madison from Eugene, Ore. Defending champion Jen Annett is not scheduled to compete.
With the distance being half-iron, Brown said it’s a nice fit for the triathletes’ training schedules.
In August, Brown will also oversee the first-ever ITU Multisport World Championship festival Aug. 18-27 in Penticton. Most of the same volunteers, as well as some of the athletes, are treating Sunday’s Challenge as a tune-up.
“This is going to give our volunteers a chance to practice for what’s going to be a bigger stage in the end of August. With Challenge, it will be smaller for this year, but it’s still great racing, a really cool event.”
Post-race celebrations, which include a beverage garden, will be offered at Gyro Park. Dave Bullock is handling emcee and announcing duties this year in the absence of Steve King, who had a prior commitment.
A kickoff street dance was held Friday hosted by the Downtown Penticton Association.
Challenge, a popular triathlon franchise in Eastern Europe, made its Canadian debut in Penticton in 2013 after the City of Penticton ended a 30-year relationship with Ironman Canada. Ironman has since relocated to Whistler and will be held on July 30.
Meanwhile, the Team Canada participants for the ITU championships were announced Thursday by Triathlon Canada.
The men’s team will feature Lionel Sanders (Windsor, Ont.), Trevor Wurtele (Kelowna), Jeff Symond (Penticton), Cody Beals (Fergus, Ont.), Steve Kilshaw (Victoria) and Jordan Bryden (Calgary). The women’s team will feature Heather Wurtele (Kelowna), Rachel McBride (Vancouver), Jen Annett (Penticton), Karen Thibodeau (Victoria), Melanie McQuaid (Victoria) and Fawn Whiting (Vancouver).
On the net: challenge-penticton.com.