SC’s Zaferes 6th at Arzachena Tri World Cup event
Aptos' Hiltz hosts inaugural Pride Stride virtual run
Santa Cruz’s Katie Zaferes took sixth place at the Arzachena Triathlon World Cup in Italy on Saturday to lead the U.S. contingent.
The sprint-distance race featured a 750-meter swim off the coast of the Italian island, a three-lap, 20-kilometer bike and a two-lap, 5-kilometer run finishing at the Parco Riva Azzurra.
Bermuda’s Flora Duffy led out of the water and added to her lead on the bike and run en route to the victory in 1 hour, 53 seconds. Great Britain’s Beth Potter distanced herself from the chase pack and secured the silver medal in 1:02:04. Italy’s Verena Steinhauser outsprinted France’s Leonie Periault in the home stretch to complete the podium in 1:02:07.
Zaferes finished in 1:02:18. American Erika Ackerlund took 12th place in 1:03:26.
The World Triathlon elite season concludes Nov. 7-8 with a sprint-distance World Cup race in Valencia, Spain.
Running
PRIDE STRIDE >> Seven-time NCAA All-American Nikki Hiltz, a professional runner and LBGTQ advocate out of Aptos, will host the inaugural Pride Stride virtual run to celebrate National Coming Out Day on
Sunday.
Pride Stride is a 5k or 10k virtual race in which participants have the option to run or walk the five- to 10-kilometer distance on the treadmill, sidewalk or trail throughout the month of October. Thirty Pride chapters across the nation are taking part in the event.
Hiltz, an aspiring 2020 Olympian, represented Team USA at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
Baseball
ARIZONA FALL CLASSIC ALLACADEMIC GAME >> Aptos High senior Fisher Johnson shined at the Arizona Fall Classic All-Academic Game on Thursday.
Players trying out needed to have at least a 3.7 GPA, an ACT score of 27 or higher, or an SAT score of 1,200 or higher. Johnson, who plays football, basketball and baseball for the Mariners, holds a 4.3 GPA and scored 1,460 on his SAT.
Johnson made the cut and was one of 20 pitchers — 90 tried out — to compete in a showcase game at Peoria Sports Complex, the San Diego Padres’ minor league stadium. He stuck out four of the five batters he faced.
Golf
HOLE-IN-ONE >> Santa Cruz’s Mike Rose earned his ninth career ace at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Friday. He drained his tee shot with a hybrid from 165 yards out on hole No. 8.