The first organized triathlon in several years in the Falls area exceeded expectations when 52 entrants participated Saturday morning in the first Backus Triathlon held at City Beach.
“We were hoping for 20 this year,” said Backus Triathlon organizer Jackie Krueger. “We’re thrilled.”
The entrants included 45 individuals — 29 females and 16 males — one two-person team and six three-person teams. Two groups of swimmers began the triathlon with a quarter-mile swim around the swimming buoys at City Beach.
Upon reaching shore following the swim, relay members and individuals made the transition to begin the 11-mile bike route between City Beach and Tilson Creek before wrapping up the triathlon with a five-kilometer run.
Two three-person teams completed the course in less than an hour.
“Team Voyageurs” comprised of swimmer Jim Hummel, biker Steve Mazur and runner Greg Drum finished first in 55 minutes and 38 seconds.
Hummel, the chief of operations at Voyageurs National Park, didn’t stop after the swimming leg, however. He continued on in the biking and running portions of the triathlon and ended up with the sixth-fastest individual time of 1:10:08.
A team comprised of three male athletes from Falls High School — swimmer Levi Lucy, biker Ian Ducharme and runner Marco Griffith — finished second overall in 59:32.
Lucy, a junior who has swum the 500-yard freestyle for the Broncos, reached the shore first to complete the triathlon’s swimming leg. Ducharme, a sophomore, also competes in swimming as well as cross country for the Falls, while Griffith, a senior, runs in cross country and track.
The top individual finish came from Jason Kabel of Fort Frances, who ended up with the third-fastest time overall in 1:03:10.
A member of the Broncos’ girls swimming and diving team recorded the top individual female time. Jenna Anderson, a sophomore at FHS, finished in 1:12:16.
All finishers received medals upon completing the triathlon.
Backus Triathlon
City Beach — August 18, 2012
Females
Anderson Jenna Int’l Falls 1:12:16
Baer Laura Fort Frances 1:12:28
Tilbury Wendy Fort Frances 1:13:31
MacKinnon Sharla Fort Frances 1:13:47
Tremblay Terri-Lee Int’l Falls 1:13:47
Canfield Kerry Fort Frances 1:13:53
Friend Nicole Bemidji 1:14:03
Windels Jennifer Int’l Falls 1:14:58
Oster Lanna Fort Frances 1:15:08
Abel Danielle Baudette 1:15:54
Mason Terry Int’l Falls 1:16:42
Larson Julie Int’l Falls 1:18:36
Beckett Kari-Lynn Fort Frances 1:19:35
Erickson Jennifer Int’l Falls 1:20:11
Skifstad Molly Chisholm 1:20:11
Petsnick Angela Fort Frances 1:20:32
Shack Natasha Fort Frances 1:21:23
Palm Susan Int’l Falls 1:22:03
Ferguson Sarah Upland 1:25:38
Belluz Melissa Fort Frances 1:27:00
Ross Megan Fort Frances 1:27:00
Witherspoon Cheri Fort Frances 1:29:21
Longmuir Debbie Fort Frances 1:29:44
Diaz Carlie Columbia Heights 1:30:12
Auran Abby Int’l Falls 1:32:10
Kinnear Colleen Emo 1:32:15
Lavalla Sue Baudette 1:44:38
Angus Linda Emo 1:47:38
Lavalla Jane Baudette Swim/Run
Only
Males
Kabel Jason Fort Frances 1:03:10
Ferguson Patrick Upland 1:04:14
Heinrich Tom Baudette 1:04:30
VonHoltzendorff Benedict Fort Frances 1:07:54
Severud William Int’l Falls 1:08:18
Hummel Jim Int’l Falls 1:10:08
Andrusco Ben Winnipeg 1:10:24
Powers Christopher Coon Rapids 1:11:06
Lord II Richard Monticello 1:11:08
Tilbury Jeff Fort Frances 1:11:09
Witherspoon Bryce Fort Frances 1:12:05
Krueger Ken Int’l Falls 1:15:18
Bloom Aaron Int’l Falls 1:15:54
Draper Chrissy Williams 1:23:46
Eberhardt Burgess Int’l Falls 1:23:53
Davis Glenn Int’l Falls 1:28:18
Two-Person Relay
Patch Cheyanne
Sather Tina Int’l Falls 1:17:51
Three-Person Relays
Hummel Jim
Drum Greg
Mazur Steve Int’l Falls 55:38
Ducharme Ian
Griffith Marco
Lucy Levi Int’l Falls 59:32
Arnold Kari
Arnold Randy
Oveson Abby Int’l Falls 1:08:52
Klow Courtney
Shofner Brandon
Shofner Breanna Int’l Falls 1:12:28
Kostiuk Ashley
Lyman Lori
Oveson Anton Int’l Falls 1:15:28
Davidson Patti
Nelson Linda
Wiczek Sandy Baudette 1:37:43
