Perfect race season for Albertan

Photo: Bill Everitt

The men's junior elite race began with a 750-metre swim in Okanagan lake under overcast skies.

Calgary’s Russell Pennock capped off a perfect season on the National Junior Series with his fourth straight win at the Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon on Saturday.

The 17-year-old Pennock, who rattled off three straight victories including the national championship title earlier this summer, took advantage of one of his best 750-metre swims of the season and ideal race conditions and climbed to the top of the podium.

Pennock came out of the water in third spot, and moved into the front of the pack by the end of the 20-kilometre bike before separating himself from the field for all four laps on the five-kilometre run to take the victory with a time of 55:30.

“That was my last National Junior Series race so I wanted to make it a fun one and I did,” said Pennock, whose sister Ellen was cheering on the sidelines fresh off competing for Canada at the Commonwealth Games.

“It was nice to have Ellen back and cheering for me. It was a solid swim today. I had to catch Myles Zagar on the bike. He is such a strong swimmer, and then I really just enjoyed those final four laps as a junior on the run.”

Nicolas Gilbert, of Trois-Rivieres, Que., was the next best finisher in second place at 56:14, while Montreal’s Jeremy Obrand won the bronze medal after stopping the clock at 56:22.

Pennock was unbeaten in his first three junior races this season including the Canadian Junior Championship title in Magog, Que. He will now head to Edmonton to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships.

“This (Kelowna) is probably my favourite triathlon. It is such a great race, but I’m super excited to race in Edmonton.”

Winnipeg’s Roy settled for second spot at 1:04:02, while Annie-Kim Labarre, of Joliette, Que., ran to the bronze medal with a time of 1:04:11.

The Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon continues on Sunday with the elite races.

For complete results on National Junior Series race hosted by Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon in Kelowna, B.C., please visithttp://www.appletriathlon.com/

Triathlon Canada is the governing body for triathlon in the country. Recognized as an Olympic medal sport since 2000 and Paralympic medal sport as of 2016, Triathlon Canada’s mandate is to promote, foster, organize and develop the sport of triathlon, and its related disciplines, in Canada. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com on the Internet.