Endsley, Darling pick up wins again in Cd'A Triathlon
COEUR d'ALENE - Suzanne Endsley showed she's still got plenty of kick left in her legs and Kalen Darling just came out to have a little fun.
Both Endsley, 44, of Coeur d'Alene, and Darling, 22, of Spokane, became second-time champions in the Coeur d'Alene Triathlon Saturday.
Endsley finished in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 8 seconds in the 27th annual event. She also won in 2001, finishing several minutes faster.
Kalen Darling, 22, of Spokane, was the overall winner, finishing in 1:59:00. He had the fastest swim of the day at 17:59 over the 1.5-kilometer course, seventh fastest time on the bike course at 1:03:01 over 40 kilometers, and fourth fastest time in the run at 36:17 over 10 kilometers.
Darling walked into the finish line for the easy win, stopping for high-fives with spectators.
Endsley had a strong bike time, finishing that section in 1:09:34.
"I made up a lot of time on the bike today," Endsley said.
She had a good run too, finishing in 42:53, despite the wind taking a toll.
"My legs were definitely there," she said.
Having the legs there in this event helps.
Darling said the hills on the bike course can be painful.
"I knew I'd lose a little time on the bike, so I like to push the swim really hard," said Darling. "This year I rode a lot better than I did two years ago."
He won the triathlon in 2008, finishing in 1:58:02, a minute ahead of this year's time.
He's competing in the Under-23 Triathlon World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in September.
"So I've been training for that," Darling said. "I just kind of came out and did this one for fun."
Endsley has already qualified for the Ford Ironman World championship in Kona, Hawaii, in October.
"Age is definitely a factor" in triathlons, she said. This was her 14th Coeur d'Alene Triathlon.
She said she knows she'll get slower, "but I'm not feeling it yet. So I'm just enjoying every single minute and taking advantage of it while I can."
Derek Garcia, 25, of Post Falls, was the top local finisher, with a time of 2:06:01. He was fourth place overall. Brian Hadley, 35, of Coeur d'Alene, finished in 2:07:09, good for sixth place overall.
Brandy Anderson, 27, of Coeur d'Alene, a strong runner, was the next best local women's finisher, behind Endsley. Anderson was third overall in the women's race, at 2:24:30. Eve Nelson, 43, of Spokane, was second among women, at 2:23:46.
Race organizers said they expected more than 1,500 athletes altogether to compete as individuals in the triathlon or duathlon or as part of triathlon or duathlon teams.
Complete race results are available at: www.cdatriathlon.com.