Triple the competition

Christine Carrillo

With participant numbers pinned across their waists and marked

again on their left calves, the 1,300 competitors -- both men and

women, young and old -- fought hard to beat their personal goals

during the fifth annual Pacific Coast Triathlon held at Crystal Cove

State Park on Sunday morning.

Waves of triathletes entered the El Morro Cove water, fighting

with every stroke to gain an inch or a foot ahead of their fellow

competitors as they swam around buoys parallel to the shore.

But the half-mile swim just served as the beginning.

Their next event: a 12-mile bike.

Attempting to make a quick and smooth transition from full wetsuit

to bike helmet and shoes created serious challenges for many of the

participants. Some decided to rip off the suit and bike in their

Speedos while others found a need to make a complete dress change,

including socks.

While the techniques varied with the skill level, which ranged

from avid professional to enthusiastic amateur, each triathlete

competed with heart.

With jubilant shouts from the competitors traveling down the hills

along East Coast Highway to determined grunts from those cycling back

up, each one was focused on finishing the three-part event, which

concluded with a three-mile run.

Many of the members of the audience applauded that heart as well.

“I don’t think I could ever do this,” said Tim Medlin, a

32-year-old Newport Beach resident. “I’m not a very athletic guy, but

I’m very spirited and that’s why I’m here.”

Supporting friends with a little more athletic drive than he,

Medlin added that he loves cheering for everyone in the race.

“They appreciate my motivating them to keep going, even though

they don’t know who I am,” he said.

Motivation and drive proved to be the key for many of the

athletes.

In the top-150 category of the race, Craig Alexander swam, biked

and ran away with the gold after completing all three events in

57.29.

Following closely in his tracks was 15-year-old Kyle Hughes in

1:03.38.

“I’m happy with it,” he said in reference to his time. “I didn’t

place as well as I would have liked.”

With seven years of experience behind him, Hughes has now set his

mind on the 2008 Olympics.

Not only has the triathlon helped to create possible Olympians of

the future, like Hughes, but it has also provided former Olympians

with another athletic avenue to attempt.

“The thing I like about triathlons is you’re only responsible for

yourself,” said Julie Swail, the 28-year-old UC Irvine water polo

coach and former 2000 water polo Olympian. “Triathlon is my priority

now, water polo is my hobby.”

By changing her focus, the two-time triathlete, who won in the

women’s category in 1:04.58, has served as an inspiration to other

women searching for motivation.

“I’m so new to the sport but I do have a lot of people saying they

were inspired by me,” she said. “It’s really a sport that you can do

forever and I love it. I really see it as a sport mom’s can do.”

With an increase in the number of women competitors, Tina Hoover,

the triathlon’s marketing executive, believes that the sport has hit

a new stride thanks to women like Swail.

As the triathlon has begun to see an increase in women, it has

also seen an increase of younger participants.

“It’s fun to see the flames being passed on,” said Race Director

Bill Leach, who has already begun to plan with Executive Director Bob

Cuyler for the sixth annual event. “Our hope is that we get to keep

the race as is next year.”

While generating even more money, they hope.

Due to the events of Sept. 11 some of the event’s usual sponsors

did not participate, thus limiting the funds generated for the two

primary benefactors, the Boys Scouts of America Troop 98 of Newport

Beach and Newport Harbor High School girls volleyball, to $15,000

instead of the usual $20,000, Leach said.

“It is a lot harder to put on a race than to do one,” he said.

“Although that’s hard enough as it is.”

* Christine Carrillo is the news assistant. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.