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Penticton  

Local wins at Challenge

Dustin Godfrey

A pair of locals have kept the gold at home, after winning men's and women's races on Sunday.

Jen Annett and Jeff Symonds, both Penticton locals, took first place in the women's and men's long-course triathlon at Challenge Penticton.

Symonds finished nearly five minutes ahead of the second spot at five hours 32 minutes 39 seconds.

Drew Scott followed at five hours 37 minutes 26 seconds.

Annett's race was much closer, however, with her finish at six hours 13 minutes 49 seconds, just 30 seconds ahead of the second place woman, Elizabeth Lyles.

Lyles finished at six hours 14 minutes 19 seconds.

Annett trailed Lyles for much of the final stretch, but said she managed to take her by the Peach – just within the last kilometre of the race.

"Sometimes you just hit this gear that you never knew you had and you just dig deep and you just hope for the best," she said.

She said she felt the swim was her weak point, but recovered in the biking and running sections.

Sunday's Symonds victory follows his gold medal in the aquathlon on Thursday, but he said the long-course race was his real dream, this year.

"Growing up in Penticton, this is everything, man," he said. "When I was a kid in elementary school, this was what you wanted to do."

This year's Challenge Penticton doubled up as the Canadian national championships, making Annett and Symonds the top in the country in their divisions.

It's also a qualifier for the ITU Multisport World Championships Festival, to be held in August 2017 in Penticton.

That means both Annett and Symonds will be representing both Penticton and Canada in next year's world championships.

When asked how it feels to be representing Canada next year, Annett had two words.

"Freaking amazing."



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