Kids of Steel participants all medalists

Nadia Stinson, Thomas Butler and Ryan Erwin arrive at the Kids of Steel finish line. Bill Samuel photo

By Bill Samuel
This year’s Kids Of Steel entrants showed their mettle.
Despite the wind and rain, the determination of the young participants was equally matched by the enthusiasm of the small army of volunteers. Shortly after 6 a.m. when the first of the volunteers arrived to set things up, to the finish of the last entrant, at 11:30 a.m., it rained.
There were 206 Kids Of Steel – ranging from six to 17-years-old  who swam, cycled and ran against the clock to achieve their best time in this year’s triathlon.
The 16 – 17 year-olds swam 300m, cycled 10km and ran 3km. The top male, Lucas Coady of Belleville, finished in a time of 46:08. The best female in the same age group, Chelsey Rupnow, of Corbyville, finished at 58:00.
The 6 – 7 year-olds swam 25m, cycled 1.5km and ran 500m. Bronis MacDougall of Glenburnie finished in 11:00 for the first boy and Grace McAuley of Toronto finished at 14:26 for the first girl in the age group.
The 8 -9 year-olds swam 50m, cycled 4k and ran 1km. Thomas Butler finished at 22:56 for the boys and Molly McKinney 24:25.
The 10 – 11 year-olds covered swimming 100m, cycling 6 km, and running 1.5km. Brayden Scholey of Peterborough finished at 28:01 and Danielle Adam of Kingston recorded a time of 32:01.
The 12 – 13 year-olds would swim 200m, bike 8km and run 2km to get to the finish. The first boy was Branna MacDougall who finished the course at 34:4. Natalie Butler finished at 35:58 for the girls.
Swimming 300m, cycling 10km and running 3km the 14 – 15 year olds had
Adam Doxtator, for the boys, finish at 37:30 and Danae Morris finish at 44:09 for the girls.
All the times can be viewed on line at www.chiptimeresults.com
In keeping with the sports philosophy that all who participate are winners, each finisher received an enthusiastic welcome and a medal.
The modern triathlon began in San Diego, California in 1974 and introduce to the Olympics in Sydney Australia in 2000. There are now more than six million people participating in triathlons world-wide.
Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre was the host for the Kids Of Steel event. Bloomfield Bicycle Company provided on-site bicycle inspections.

Clockwise, from top left: Swimmers complete the swimming portion of the event; Matthew Speedy checks off Andre Pothier as he begins his final leg of the triathalon; Katie Misener of the Bloomfield Bicycle Company does a final inspection on a bike; Amanda Wade, takes the turn from Main to Lake St. on the second leg of her triathalon effort; MacLaren Stevenson on the final leg of his journey; Andre Pothier receives a cheer from Tisa Seybold.