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Mensink and Smith are Banff Triathlon Champions

London Olympic Gold-Medalist Rosie MacLennan's Team takes the Relay Title.

Beautiful weather greeted athletes on the morning of the 3rd annual Subaru Banff Triathlon.  The stunning mountain town was absolutely at its best with pristine blue skies, warm temperatures (27 C) and a clear view of the surrounding peaks.  The athletes began the race with the impressive reflection of Mount Rundle on the waters of Two Jack Lake.

Olympic triathlete Lisa Mensink showed that her fitness is coming back to form.  She not only took the overall women’s title, but also posted the second fastest time of the day, wiping out all but one of the men!  Earlier this year Mensink suffered a terrible injury, breaking her arm in three places during the London qualifying event in San Diego.  Her victory today showed that she is well on her way back to being one of the world’s most competitive ITU athletes.

Beijing Olympic synchronized swimmer Alison McKenny (swim), London gold-medalist Rosie MacLennan (bike), and Beijing Olympic modern pentathlete Joshua Riker-Fox (run) proved their athletic prowess yet again by taking the top spot in the Mixed Relay Super Sprint division.  They had a lot of fun out on the course and greatly enjoyed their experience in Banff.  Rosie MacLennan spent the week in Banff sharing her gold medal with many lucky members in the community, and the athletes in the race.

In the Sprint division many provincial champions were crowned; 24 athletes punched their tickets to the 2013 World Championships in London, England.  It is a fitting reward, given the Olympic theme of the event, that these athletes will be racing on the same course in London’s High Park where the Olympians were awarded their medals this summer.

OLYMPIC DIVISION

Top 3 Women
1. Lisa Mensink, Calgary, AB – 2:02:57
2. Lisa Graham, St. Albert, AB – 2:14:28
3. Janet Nielsen, Victoria, BC – 2:20:34

Top 3 Men
1. Eddie Smith, Vancouver, BC – 2:01:12
2. Brendan Mackenzie, Regina, SK – 2:06:32
3. Jonathan Gendron, Victoria, BC – 2:08:55

Top 3 Overall
1. Eddie Smith, Vancouver, BC – 2:01:12
2. Lisa Mensink, Calgary, AB –  2:02:57
3. Brendan Mackenzie, Regina, SK – 2:06:32

The Subaru Banff Triathlon is the fifth race in the Subaru Western Triathlon Series.  For more information about the Series, and full results from the Banff race, visit www.triseries.ca.