Race Set to go this Sunday
Like so many B.C. athletes and sporting fans, the Subaru Shawnigan Lake International Triathlon has caught Olympic fever. With the 2010 Olympic Games less than a year away, the Shawnigan Lake event is shaping up to have a strong Olympic-style flavour. By adding the popular Olympic distance race to the event and the inclusion of a number of Olympic athletes from a variety of sports, organizers are optimistic that this will be the biggest and best event yet.
Participants include Olympic Gold Medal Rower Ben Rutledge, Paralympian Gold Medal Swimmer Stephanie Dixon as well as Olympic Triathletes, including Canada's own Brent McMahon, and Lisa Mensink representing the Netherlands. The Shawnigan Lake event will also see 2008 champion Rachel Kiers returning to defend her title with a challenge from American Pro and cover girl Katya Meyers. In the men’s field, 2007 champion Jasper Blake will race head to head against his protégé Stephen Kilshaw, a National Centre Team member.
This year the Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon will host athletes from six different countries, including contestants from Australia and Finland. The Subaru Series continues to expand with the Shawnigan Lake event expecting over 400 participants this year, many of which are local athletes competing for the first time.
"We were worried about registrations this year because of the current economic challenges," says Event Director John Botelho, "but with the registrations we have received so far, we have already far surpassed last year's totals and they are still pouring in."
For 2009 the race also has been named British Columbia Provincial Championships.
For more information contact Shantel Cordeiro at
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