WINONA LAKE -- Hundreds converged on Winona Lake Saturday for the annual Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club Triathlon.
There were 13 teams and 551 participants in the 19th annual triathlon.
Proceeds from the race benefited the club’s youth programs.
“I hope participants use this as a spring board to improve their health through their whole life and the community is encouraged to participate in this to improve their long-term outlook on life,” said Ron Donkers, race director.
There was a 1/4 and 1/8 mile swim, a 13.1-mile bike ride to Pierceton and a 3.5-mile run using the Greenway path to Southtown Estates.
All of the proceeds of the race are used by the Warsaw Breakfast Club to fund youth events and opportunities for area children.
The top female winner was Chris Wickard, 42, Crown Point, and top male finisher was Brad Murphey, 39, Osceola.
Wickard finished at 1 hour, 9 minutes and 37 seconds.
Murphey finished at 1 hour, 1 minute and 39 seconds.
Wickard also won last year’s woman’s triathlon.
She said she works out everyday.
“I swim three times a week as well as bike and run three times a week,” Wickard said.
She said she enjoys the triathlon in Winona Lake.
She said her favorite part is the bike ride because it’s not a hilly course, and the most challenging is the swim.
Murphey won last year’s triathlon also.
“I like how well the triathlon is run, it’s very organized and the biking portion is a smooth course and the run is scenic,” Murphey said.
He said he does a lot of morning and evening workouts.
He will do five more triathlons this summer and finish in Hawaii at the Ironman World Triathlon Competition.
Bob McKeague, 87, Chicago, was the oldest competitor Saturday.
He said Saturday was his 10th year for participating in the triathlon.
“I start out with the right genes and build on those genes by exercising and training,” McKeague said.
He said he used to enjoy the run the most, but now likes the biking more.
“I swim twice a week, run three times a week and the most I ran at once was six miles and that was last Sunday,” McKeague said.
