National champions are crowned in Kelowna
Jeremy Briand and Karol-Ann Roy win their first national titles
On July 7th, Jeremy Briand and Karol-Ann Roy celebrated their first elite National titles in Kelowna, BC. The national championship race was held in conjunction with the two-day CAMTRI event and Kelowna Apple Triathlon (amateurs).
For the elites, qualifying for the finals began on Saturday in the CAMTRI super sprint semi-finals. With the final start list set for Sunday, some of Canada’s top elite triathletes duked it out for a national title on Sunday.
On the men’s side, Briand crossed the line with a winning time of 52:11 in a sprint finish with Russell Pennock. “It feels unreal,” said Briand at the finish. “I’ve had a lot of injuries over the past few seasons, so winning Nationals was a big goal of mine, and I am over the moon.”
After a large group came out of the water together, a strong packed formed on the bike with no one able to distance themselves heading into the run. Briand and Charles Paquet pulled away from the field early on in the run, but Pennock quickly worked his way up to the leaders after starting in the back. It would then be a three-man sprint for first. Briand crossed just ahead of Pennock, and Paquet rounded out the podium.
In the women’s race, Karol-Ann Roy continued her breakout season with a national title by finishing fifth in the women’s CAMTRI sprint race. “I am super happy with my race and to be the first Canadian to finish today,” said Roy – will represent Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games.
“The first five minutes on the bike was the key for me today. I was able to make up the gap and get to the front for the whole bike,” said Roy. “That set me up for a really good run, so I’m happy.”
Roy led a trio of Canadians across the line in fifth place overall with a time of 59:12. Canadians Ellen Pennock and Elisabeth Boutin followed in sixth (59:24) and seventh (59:31). P
Triathlon Canada also awarded Under-23 and Junior National champions. Kyla Roy and Charles Paquet were the top U23 Canadian finishers. While Alexandrine Coursol and Brock Hoel took home the junior championship.
