Going the distance

Bryce Alderton

Crystal Cove -- Matthew Clark and Julie Swail were hardly out of

breath as they crossed the finish line Sunday morning at Crystal Cove

State Park after completing the fourth annual Pacific Coast Triathlon.

Clark, 21, had the fastest time of any competitor, 1:00:16, and placed

first in the Pro/Elite Age Group. Swail had the fastest time of any

female competitor, 1:06:42, also placing first in the Pro/Elite Age

Group.

Clark said he was able to keep a constant pace for a majority of the

race, jogging most of the second half.

“I tried to control the pace all day and be comfortable throughout.”

Clark said. “The swimming was tough, the bike course was strong and once

I looked at the turn and saw my lead, I just felt comfortable from

there.”

Clark has only been in America for three months after moving here from

Sydney, Australia, where he said he grew up in a “beach-type” atmosphere.

He was quick to point out his appreciation for the crowd that lined the

fences and cheered him on.

“This scene is great; it builds the race up,” Clark said. “Americans

are so passionate, where the Australians are more laid back. In

Australia, you might see only a hundred people watching the event.”

Swail also felt inspired and motivated as the spectators clapped and

cheered.

“The people on the sidelines cheering makes a difference. This is fun

and the energy level builds up with the race,” Swail said.

Endurance is a must in a triathlon, which requires participants to

first swim half a mile, then bike 12 miles and finally run three miles.

And Swail, no doubt, has plenty of it.

“This course is challenging for a sprint, especially the run after the

swim and the final hill is terrific,” she explained. “The hill played

into endurance, which is one of my strengths.”

The 28-year-old is the women’s water polo coach at UC Irvine and was a

member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Water Polo team.

Swail said that playing water polo prepared her for a race like this.

“There were parts of this course that were a lot easier compared with

playing an hourlong [water polo] game with an opposing player that weighs

40 pounds more than you dragging you,” Swail said.

Swail trains at UCI, swimming for the school’s master’s program, runs

with whomever she can find and always rides in groups.

Swail said the thought that helped her through this and every race is

“racing against myself” and not worrying about the other competitors.

Clark and Swail each won a kayak, and their finishing times will get

classified into the United States of America Triathlon (USAT) ratings

scale for use for future entries.

The idea of a triathlon in the area can be traced to the work of Bob

Cuyler and Bill Leach, two triathletes who, twice a week for 18 years,

have ridden the same hills the athletes rode Sunday.

Three years ago, the duo started the event, which raises money to

support community organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Newport Harbor

High School tennis, Corona del Mar High School football and UCI water

polo. Leach said the event has generated about $103,000 the past three

years.

“It’s really a celebration of fitness,” Leach said.

He said more than 30 percent of participants are first-time

triathletes.

“All the sponsors opened doors for the event to happen and proved that

if you want to do something with people’s support, it can work,” Leach

said.

Costa Mesa resident John Brazelton, 33, finished first in the men’s 30

to 34 age group. Training about two to three hours daily, he described

the event as a “time-intensive sport.”

“This is a great stress relief,” said the Newport Harbor High biology

and chemistry teacher. “It’s conducive to staying healthy, sleeping well

at night and I can justify eating whatever I want.”

A dripping and sandy Kevin Palmer walked off the course, a little

exhausted from not only racing Sunday morning, but also from getting back

Saturday night from a trip to Germany, where he competed in a few races.

With the third best time, Palmer led Team Cutting Edge, the first

professional triathlon team in America. The team is made up of seven

athletes that compete in Southern California.

Palmer stood smiling and said he had no qualms with the course.

“There wasn’t a flat spot on it and right out of the swim it was

rough, but it was a good course,” said Palmer of San Diego.

Brazelton enjoyed the course, which he described as challenging.

“Bill [Cuyler] and Bob [Leach] packed lots of steep hills into one

hour,” he said. “You couldn’t back off at all because it would cost you.”