Victoria-based Andrew Russell won the Saunders Subaru Ironman 70.3 Victoria Triathlon on Sunday at Elk Lake in Saanich.
Russell finished second at the same Western Tri Series event last year, when it was known as the Saunders Subaru Victoria Triathlon event in 2013. Russell was the 2013 Canadian long distance triathlon (half-Ironman) champion.
Coming in third among the men was Victoria’s Stephen Kilshaw, behind second-place pro Matt Lieto from the United States.
Canmore's (Alta) Karen Thibodeau was the first woman out of the water at Hamsterly Beach with a 1.9 kilometre swim time of 25:37. She held the lead for a 4:30:34 winning time. Mackenzie Madison (USA) was second, and local Janet Neilsen was third, getting on the podium once again.
The Western Tri Series continues in Saskatoon on June 29.
Triathlon season returns to Elk Lake with the 35th annual Self-Transcendence Triathlon and Duathlon on Sunday, Aug. 3.
reporter@saanichnews.com