Junior triathletes showed their skills at the Apple Triathlon on Saturday in Kelowna.
17-year-old Michael Milic from Delta won first place in the male junior category with a time of 56:03.
This was Milic’s third Apple Triathlon.
“This year it was the best race I could really hope for,” said Milic. “I got out there with three other guys who were totally committed to the bike and we got a gap on the bike and we caught it in the run.”
17-year-old Brennen Smith of Victoria finished second in the male junior category. He was close behind Milic with a time of 56:24.
“The run was challenging, but I’m very happy with the swim,” said Smith.
This was his fourth time in the Apple Triathlon.
Desirae Ridenour (15) from Cowichan Bay took first place in the female juniors category.
She has been participating in the Apple Triathlon since she was six or seven.
However, every race brings new challenges, she said.
“(Triathlons) are challenging and every race is different. So you have to adapt to every race you run. I was glad I came out swimming with the front pack, then we all worked pretty well together on the bike. “
Ridenour’s time was 1:01:40.
Seconds behind Ridenour was Victoria’s Hannah Henry with a time of 1:01:59.
Henry, 15, has also competed in the Apple Triathlon many times after competing since she was eight or nine.
“It’s fun to combine the three sports that are my three favorite sports,” said Henry.
Her favorite part of the race is the run, but she was happy to improve the swimming section this time.
“I usually come out of the water in the second pack, so I was really happy to be in the front pack,” she said.
Along with the junior elite races on Saturday, there were the Kids of Steel races, the Try-a-Tri, the open water swimming and the Corporate Cup.
The Apple Triathlon will continue on Sunday with the age group sprint and Olympic distance races from 7:15 a.m. A total of 1,200 athletes take part in the various events of this year’s Apple Triathlon.
