Conditions were just about perfect on Sunday, July 15 for the Carbonear sprint triathlon, and that's just about how you can describe performances by Jordan Baird and Katherine MacBay.
Baird again proved he is the No. 1 triathlete in this province by dominating the men's event, winning for the second consecutive year in a combined time of 56 minutes, 46 seconds.
The 19-year-old is a resident of Lewin's Cove on the Burin Peninsula, and has his sights set on the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Quebec, though he hasn't decided whether he will compete in triathlon or cycling.
Baird has now surpassed Stephen Dyke of St. John's as the man to beat at the Carbonear event. Dyke competes in the 50-59 age category, and dominated the race for about a decade. He finished this year's race in 58:59, and was the only other competitor to finish in under one hour.
MacBay, meanwhile, improved on last year's second place finish to claim the 2012 crown in a time of one hour, seven minutes and 23 seconds. MacBay, a resident of St. John's, competes in the 30-39 age category. Her closest rival was Nicole Graham of Conception Bay South, who finished about a minute-and-a-half behind.
Last year's winner in the female division, Carbonear native Victoria Ralph, did not enter this year.
Organizers say just under 100 people took part in the event, which features a 500 metre swim in Freshwater Pond, a 20 kilometre bike race, and a five kilometre run.
Only a handful of participants were from the Carbonear region, a circumstance organizers hope to change in the future, especially in the team category.
For more comprehensive coverage of the triathlon, see the July 24 print edition of The Compass.
