Kelowna’s Apple Triathlon hosts National Championships

This weekend, the Apple Triathlon presented by Anthony’s Subaru Kelowna is the host of the 2018 Triathlon Canada National Championships. The event will feature youth and try-a-tri races on Saturday, age group standard and sprint triathlons on Sunday and elite races on Saturday and Sunday.

Related: “We all want to win”: The 2018 Canadian National Triathlon Championship preview

On Saturday, youth and provincial races go before the semi-finals of the CAMTRI/Canadian National Championships in the afternoon. Defending Canadian national champions, Tyler Mislawchuk and Joanna Brown will look to defend their 2017 titles beginning Saturday.

On Sunday, the day begins with B and C finals for the elite triathletes. Followed by the age group standard and sprint distance races. Following the completion of the age group triathlons, the women’s and men’s elite A final will begin.

2017 Canadian Men's National Triathlon Champion Tyler Mislawchuk. Photo Credit to Janos Schmidt/ITU

2017 Canadian Women's National Triathlon Joanna Brown. ©2015 Rich Cruse ITU

Alexis Lepage was second at last year's National Championships.

Paula Findlay was second at last year's National Championships.

Matthew Sharpe

Amelie Kretz

All the races on Saturday will be on the same course, but the number of laps will vary for each event. The course Saturday will be technical with lots of corners and turns. “On the bike, there are 16 turns/u-turns in just 8K of riding,” says Mislawchuk. “With so many loops on Saturday, the course will be really fast and exciting for the spectators watching,” says Amelie Kretz.

Then on Saturday it’s a one loop bike and run. “Sunday is a bit different, but it features a tough 2K climb in the bike. This is going to make things interesting. I’ll look to make an impact here early in the race. If you can’t handle this climb you’re not going to win,” says Mislawchuk. The standard race does two loops of the sprint course for all three disciplines.