Organizers of the 3rd annual Orange County International Triathlon are still buzzing after the October 10 event, which drew nearly 700 participants and about 2,500 spectators to Mission Viejo.
Jens Beck of Alaska and Joanna Fiddler of Stillwater, Oklahoma won the Best of the U.S. National Championship, which was hosted by OC Tri and featured state champions from across the country. Team California took 3rd place in the Women’s Fastest State Competition. The OC Tri winners were Chris Berg of La Jolla and Kathleen Hayden of Rochester. The winning relay team was Avila’s El Ranchito.
The event also included police, firefighter and military personnel in the Heroes Division with Harry Constant of Trabuco Canyon taking first for the males and Denise Oglesby winning the top female spot.
The race, an Olympic distance course, consisted of a 1-mile swim in Lake Mission Viejo and a 25-mile bike ride that began on Marguerite Parkway, north to El Toro Road and out through Santiago Canyon. It ended with a 10K run that started on the Aliso Creek Bike Trail and followed various trail systems that led back to the lake.
“This is the 3rd year that the Triathlon has been back in Mission Viejo after a 20-year hiatus,” said Mayor Trish Kelley. “It is a popular event, and I am pleased that I was able to help in its return to the City. In presenting the awards to the winners, I was impressed with the physical strength, commitment, and dedication of these unique athletes – from teens to seniors in their seventies. While awards were given for top speeds by age and gender categories, everyone who participated deserved an award!”
Organizers said Mission Viejo is the perfect city to host such an event.
“The fresh water lake provides an optimal swim course within an acclaimed community and it’s adjacent to some of Orange County’s most pristine open space, Santiago Canyon, with amazing vistas of Saddleback Mountain,” said David Flournoy. “The City has a rich history of supporting athletic events including an Olympic bike course in 1984 and the OC Performing Arts Triathlon.”
Along with the venue, more than 200 volunteers helped to make this year’s event such a grand success.
“Needless to say, with the support from several volunteer groups such as the Nadadores, Tri La Vie Women’s Triathlon Club and the Saddleback YMCA along with local high school cross country runners, we were very pleased with this year’s event,” said Bill Leach, race director. “It seems to be getting better each year. Our goal is to make the OC Triathlon a regional or national championship or qualifying event for the sport. The course is one of the most perfect triathlon courses in the world.”
The triathlon will help benefit the Mission Viejo Nadadores, Tri la Vie (Exceeding Expectations) and Saddleback YMCA.
For more information regarding the event and race finishers, which included several Mission Viejo residents, visit www.OCTriSeries.com.
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