Although the local schedule is a little lighter this weekend, one of the area’s most popular summer events is scheduled for Saturday: the annual Rigby Triathlon. This is its 11th year and Michael Hays of Personal Best Performance is anticipating participation to meet or exceed the record numbers from last year’s 10th anniversary event.
The Medal Stand: Large turnout expected for Rigby Triathlon
By MARLOWE HEREFORD
The annual Rigby Triathlon commemorated two milestones last summer: its 10th anniversary and its first year as a USA Triathlon sanctioned event.
Michael Hays of Personal Best Performance said it also drew the largest turnout in its history, and Saturday’s numbers could be a repeat of that feat.
“We will probably match that or surpass that this year,” Hays said. “It was very successful last year. We had people from a number of different states come in, high quality competitors. We also had a lot of local people who experienced it for the first time.”
As of Wednesday, Hays said there are registered competitors from 12 states. The farthest an athlete is traveling to compete is from Florida, and two others are traveling from Canada.
There is also a junior division, and Hays said the youngest registered athlete is 8 years old.
“They compete right next to the adults,” Hays said.
Among the local athletes competing is Stephanie Liddle, a cyclist turned accomplished triathlete and the owner of Performance Physical Therapy. The inaugural Rigby Triathlon in 2006 was the first triathlon she ever competed in, and she hasn’t missed a year since. Her two daughters and son are also active and have competed in past Rigby Triathlons.
“(Stephanie) has often received the medal for fastest female split in the cycling portion,” Hays said.
Medals are awarded to every finisher as well as to the top three for each age group, overall male and female winners in Olympic and sprint distances, aquabike and duathlon (similar to triathlon, but the swimming portion is replaced with a second running portion) and for the fastest male and female splits in the swimming, biking and running portions.
The transition area opens at 6 a.m. Saturday at Jefferson County Lake. Start times are 7:30 a.m. for Olympic distance triathletes and aquabike competitors and 8:30 a.m. for sprint distance triathletes and duathlon competitors.
The USA Triathlon sanctioning means that participants can qualify for national championships in triathlon and duathlon at the event.
Coming up locally
The annual Joint Jaunt 10k and 5k takes place Saturday at Bonneville Park in Pocatello. It is the third race of the Portneuf Valley Fun Run Series. The 10k starts at 7:30 a.m. and 5k begins at 8 a.m.
Team USA updates
The countdown to Rio 2016 has reached 29 days today. As July continues, more athletes are securing their spots on Team USA.
The U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming concluded Sunday in Omaha. Per Nick Zaccardi of NBC Olympic Talk, the U.S. Olympic swimming team is sending its largest number of newcomers (30) to the Games since Sydney 2000.
The U.S. Olympic Trials for track and field continue through Sunday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. The Trials for women’s artistic gymnastics begin Friday and continue through Sunday in San Jose.