When graduating Pacific Christian School student Hayden McClure was interviewed about his chances to win the school’s Tin Man triathlon (300 metre swim, 10km bike, 3km run) last week, he guessed it wouldn’t be him at all, and that Cam Fennema would win.
Turns out McClure was right. Hopefully he’s picked the Canucks to win as well.
Fennema won the senior Tin Man race by just-under two minutes with a time of 33 minutes, 21 seconds -- 35 seconds off the boys record. McClure finished in the top five.
But the big story, said teacher and coach John Stewart, was Grade 8 Emily Clark winning the junior triathlon.
“Clark came out of nowhere to set the best female time ever in the event,” Stewart said.
“I’m calling it now, she could be the next Kirsten Sweetland.”
Clark put forth a terrific swim time of 4:17 (300 metres) which led to her “jaw dropping” time of 36:14.
It beats the previous record of 36:53, set by Erin van Wiltenburg in 2005.
As a reference point, van Wiltenburg has since accomplished such feats as running 100 marathons in 100 days through Africa as well as a three week, 600 kilometre run across Vancouver Island last year.
Tin Man top finishers
Jr. Girls Time Grade1. Emily Clark 36:14 82. Kathryn Candell 39:43 93. Cielene Wood 42:03 8
Jr. Boys1. Matt Neufeld 38:19 92. Jacob Frackson 40:03 93. Luke Weaver 40:08 9
Sr. Girls1. Amanda Volk 39:44 112. Emily Candell 39:57 103. Alexa Raper 41:21 12
Sr. Boys1. Cam Fennema 33:21 102. Calvin Attridge 35:12 113. Peter Galbraith 35:37 10
* New female record