Former Long Bridge Swim champ wins Cd'A Triathlon

COEUR d’ALENE — Former Long Bridge Swim winner Kalen Darling, a 22 year-old from Spokane, was the overall winner of the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon for the second time on Saturday, having also won in 2008.

Darling, who won the 2008 and 2009 Long Bridge Swims in Sandpoint, had to make a choice this year and opted to compete in the triathlon, finishing in 1:59. He had the fastest swim of the day at 17:59 over the 1.5-kilometer course, seventh fastest time on the bike course at 1:03:01 over 40 kilometers, and fourth fastest time in the run at 36:17 over 10 kilometers.

Darling walked into the finish line for the easy win, stopping for high-fives with spectators.

Former Sandpoint resident and SHS graduate Brian Hadley, 35, of Coeur d’Alene, finished in 2:07:09, good for sixth place overall.

Spokane’s Susan Endsley was the top female finisher in 2:23. More than 530 competitors finished the race.

Other Sandpoint male finishers: Frank Finney, 21, who finished 56th overall in 2:25.40; Mark Baillie, 45, who finished 132nd in 2:38.42; Ken Kovalchuk, 46, who finished sixth in his age group and 309th overall with a time of 3:02.23; Carlo Pati, 45, who finished 362nd with a time of 3:09.50.

Other Sandpoint female finishers: Katherine Converse, 41, who finished seventh in her age group and 214th overall with a time of 2:49.54; Lindsey Larson, 29, also finished seventh in her age group and 219th overall in 2:50.17; Terese Luikens, 52, who finished third in her age group and 331st in 3:05.47; Valerie Bucholtz, 40, who finished 382nd in 3:13.06.