Sophie Hotchkiss wins the 17th annual Kincardine Women's Triathlon

Despite the heavy waves of Lake Huron, Sophie Hotchkiss, 20, of Kincardine and Hamilton, persevered and won the 17th annual Kincardine Women's Triathlon, held Saturday morning at Station Beach, Kincardine.
 

“The water was quite rough and I was a little unprepared for it,” said Hotchkiss after crossing the finish line first and then waiting for the final times before being declared the champion.

She said her father, Shane, who lives in Kincardine, got her involved in triathlon. Last year, she came in second overall, so it was a thrill to win this year, she said.
 

“Swimming and cycling are my best events,”`she said, “but I have to work hard on the running. We had good energy out there and it was great to hear people cheering us on along the route.”

The weather was perfect for the race which drew 450 competitors in triathlon, duathlon and relay events. Last year, the swim portion had to be cancelled because the lake was too rough.

The triathlon is a super sprint distance triathlon, including a 375-metre swim, a 12-kilometre bike ride, and a three-kilometre run. The duathlon consists of a three-kilometre run, 12-kilometre bike ride, and three-kilometre run, and the triathlon relay has teams with each member completing a separate component of the race.

Placing in the top 15 in the triathlon, behind Hotchkiss, were Beth Bruce of Kingston, Christina Kelly of Collingwood, Leandra Budau, Jami-Lee Boucher of Kelowna, B.C. (formerly of Kincardine), Lorraine Dietz of Bayfield, Rachel Grainer of Barrie, Katherine Gaudreau of Kincardine, Megan Frayne of Goderich, Colleen Parr of Midhurst, Lisa Pot of Auburn, Kortney Watson of Kincardine, Clare Day of Goderich, Barbara Riley of Brooklin and Cindy Ivanitz of London.

Jennifer Roy of Waterloo won the duathlon, followed by Nicole Barker of Georgetown, Shanna White of Kincardine, May Tettero of Durham, Lisa Wardell of Chatsworth, Sarah Saunders of Mount Forest, Katie Bogie of Clinton, Danielle La Croix of Kincardine, Carla Pawitch of Blyth and Melissa De Melo of Port Elgin.

The Hundt girls won the relay event, followed by the Tragically Hipsters, Menage a Tri, Givin' It a Tri, The Girls, and Tri-Karma Konnection.

For complete results, check on-line at: www.chiptimeresults.com/chiptimepublic/results.php

A Healthy Lifestyle and Fitness Expo was held Friday night on the race site at the Kincardine Harbour.