The growth of the Redondo Beach Triathlon was evident Sunday when the 12th annual event drew age division winners from throughout the state, Arizona and Canada highlighted by a pair of Irvine athletes from different generations taking the top two spots.
After finishing third in 2015, Michael Collins, 50, won the event with a time of 44 minutes, two seconds cruising to the finish line well ahead of fellow Irvine resident Ryuya Souther, 18, who posted a time of 46:58. James Shalvoy, 23, of Manhattan Beach placed third at 47:16.
“I’ve gone head-to-head with Michael Collins over the years,” said Race Director Rick Crump, an accomplished triathlete who won the Redondo Beach Triathlon in the early 2000s. “It’s nice to have us both be winners of the event, particularly with him winning at the age of 50.”
Los Angeles triathlete Laura McDonald, 34, finished eighth overall to capture the women’s division with a time of 48:33.
Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Kravtchenko, of San Mateo, was the second-fastest female at 51:19 while another Irvine athlete Astrid Collins, 42, placed third at 52:08.
The triathlon has become a family affair and this year’s event featured Redondo Beach Triathlon founder DeDe Moore and Bob Babbitt, who won the men’s 65-69 age division.
“It’s nice to have a variety of athletes compete each year,” Crump added. “I was excited when Bob Babbitt called and told me he wanted to come to the race. He is an Ironman Hall of Famer and a triathlon personality.”
Males winning their age divisions included: Kyle Wong (13-15, Yorba Linda, 47:18), Souther (16-19), Shalvoy (20-24), Calum Rickard (25-29, Los Angeles, 47:52), Matthieu Gancedo (30-34, Torrance, 48:35), Greg Paggi (35-39, Northridge, 48:42), Owen Leimbach (40-44, Redondo Beach, 50:42), Ted Iantuono (45-49, Manhattan Beach, 48:32), Collins (50-54), George Esahak-gage (55-59, Scottsdale, Ariz., 49:20), Terry Loftus (60-64, Laguna Niguel, 49:53), Bob Babbitt (65-69, Carlsbad, 57:00) and Michael Wood (70-74, Ventura, 57:29).
Females winning their age divisions included: Kravtchenko (13-15), Victoria Woolfolk (16-19, Santa Ana, 53:32), Katrina Boyd (20-24, Pasadena, 1:07:32), Rebekah Power (25-29, Redondo Beach, 55:53), McDonald (30-34), Christen Chapman (35-39, Hermosa Beach, 55:47), Collins (40-44), Satoto Cool (45-49, Rolling Hills Estates, 57:33), Jane Esahak-gage (50-54, Scottsdale, Ariz., 52:22), Jennifer Aronson (55-59, Santa Monica, 1:13:30), Suzan Mitchell (60-64, Redondo Beach, 1:05:05) and Jo Lam (65-69, Gardena, 1:52:07).
Redondo Beach’s Verena Thompson won the Athena competition with a time of 1:01:38 and Keith Rasmussen, of Rancho Palos Verdes, captured the Clydesdale division at 59:47.
The Male Elite winner was Dana Staggs, of Hermosa Beach, with a time of 48:41 and Canadian Madi Serpico, of Calgary, Alberta, won the Female Elite division at 59:46.
Complete results are available at rbtriathlon.com.
