Tyson wins Troika Triathlon

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — Local triathlete Steven Tyson dominated the bike and run portions of the 33rd Annual Troika Triathlon on Saturday en route to winning the half Ironman race at Medical Lake.

Tyson, 36, was more than 10 minutes behind some of the competitors after the 1.2 mile swim, which he finished in 34:13, before dominating the 56 mile bike (2:27) and the 13.1 mile run (1:24) to win in 4:28.10.

He passed a host of competitors on the bike, taming a 20 mph headwind to move up into striking distance heading into the run. He was most pleased with his performance in the run, eventually winning the race by more than four minutes.

“The wind on the bike was brutal,” said Tyson, a personal trainer competing in his first-ever half-Ironman. “I got up to third in the bike, then passed them (leaders) one mile into the run. I was never expecting to go that fast off the bike.”

Tyson continues to emerge as one of the top Ironmen in the region, having placed 33rd overall in the Coeur d’Alene Ironman last year in his first attempt at the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile endurance race. More impressively, he ranked No. 1 among more than 1,800 first time competitors.

He hopes to improve upon that finish next month when he attempts the race for a second time.

“I want to get in the top 15,” he said of the 2013 Cd’A Ironman. “I think I can do it.”

He won’t lack for motivation, as his dad Ken Tyson passed away a few months ago. Ken, a former college quarterback and diver, was one of Steven’s biggest supporters.

“I’m doing the Coeur d’Alene Ironman for him,” said Steven. “That’s a lot of inspiration.”

Should Tyson finish in the top four in his age group, which he missed doing by just three minutes last year, he will qualify for the iconic Ironman Hawaii in Kona in October.

He’s currently training between 16-20 hours a week, and feels like he’s in top form heading into the competitive triathlon season.

“I love doing it, and I have a knack for it,” he said. “I did my first one and now I’m addicted. It’s fun, or I wouldn’t do it.”