The July deluge spelled trouble for many Bow Valley athletes, but it didn’t faze Riptides star Neo Gleason or pro triathlete Madi Serpico, as both emerged victorious at the Grizzly Mountain Events Tri It 1,500-metre open water swim at Quarry Lake, Saturday (July 16).
Gleason, 16, has rewritten much of the Bow Valley Riptides record book and proved he’s just as fast in wild waters as he is at Elevation Place. He clocked a time of 20:52 for a decisive win. Ryan Scheuerman finished second (21:39) and John Pexman was third (24:07).
“I’m really happy with it. When I saw all the guys in front of me on the first half of the lap, I just tried to draft off them. I really thought I wasn’t going to be able to catch them,” Gleason said.
Fresh off a strong performance at long course provincials, the Canmore teen was in great shape for the race. But without a pool wall to kick off every 25 metres, and a requirement to run out of the water on the beach every 500 metres, Gleason said he was out of his comfort zone.
“Having to run out and dive back in. Every single time you think it’s over, then it continues. It’s just hell,” Gleason said. “The key is to keep holding your technique. If you do that, you’ll survive it.”
Serpico, 23, has been on the pro triathlon circuit for three years. The Calgary resident finished in a time of 21:40, ahead of biathlete India McIsaac (23:16) and Emma Skaug (23:30), using the swim as a warm up for the Whistler 70.3 triathlon next weekend.
“Initially, getting my face in the water was a little shocking,” Serpico said. “My goal today was just to get used to having people swim around me, and having a mass start. The atmosphere here is great, and Grizzly Events does a really great job.”
McIsaac, a biathlete with Rocky Mountain Racers, used the race to mix up her summer training regime, as her coaches believe it prevents her from growing bored over summer. Swimming and skiing have some crossover skills, she said, and the result paid off with a quick 1,500m.
“I haven’t swam very much, but I felt good in the water. It was a good day for sure,” McIsaac said. “I just tried to go straight and focus on the long stroke. There was definitely a few times where I was shoved under water, and I was knocking people over. It gets kinda rough out there, but it’s fun.”
In the 3,000m swim, Calgary swimmers proved dominant. Catherine Alcorn won the women’s race in a time of 46:55, followed by Aimee Gabriell (47:22) and Mercedes Macdougall (47:24).
Alcorn was the only swimmer to praise the grey and dreary weather on race day, as she could only see sunny ways from the winner’s circle.
“It was actually really nice weather. Usually it’s super hot. Having it a bit cooler was super nice,” Alcorn said. “I tried to stick with the 1,500m girls as long as I could, keep passing people and keep going. By the last buoy, I had a feeling I was in a good spot.”
She’ll try and keep the win streak going at the Xterra Canmore race on Aug. 14.
Mathieu Cyr of Calgary posted an incredibly fast time to win the 3,000m men’s race, ripping up the course in 39:34.
Cyr, 15, swims with the University of Calgary Swim Club, and was on pace to break the course record at the halfway mark. The young swimmer wants to return next year for a crack at the title.
“I was trying to go all out at the beginning and hold it,” Cyr said.
Amr El Azhary finished second (43:47) and Jorge Rivas was third (45:56).
