Tyson, Wells win divisions at Priest Lake Triathlon

SANDPOINT — Steven Tyson finished fourth among 283 racers in the Olympic distance, leading a strong contingent of Sandpoint finishers at the Priest Lake Triathlon last weekend.

Tyson, who has been out of racing for the past year while rehabbing a knee injury, clocked a 2:07.06 to win the 30-35 year-old portion of the Olympic distance race (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run). The races were run amid a fairly thick layer of smoke, no easy task on the lungs during an intensive cardio event.

“The smoke was thick, it smelled like a campfire,” said Tyson, eager to return to competitive triathlon racing. “It was my first race back and I couldn’t find my running legs. The smoke had an effect on everyone.”

Andrea Wells won the 45-49 year-old women’s division, clocking a 2:42.03, just ahead of fellow Sandpoint competitor Jody Aslett, who was second at 2:43.49.

In the sprint distance race, which was a 375 yard swim, 11 mile mountain bike ride and 3.1 mile run, a pair of Sandpoint women won their divisions as well in a race that featured 216 competitors.

Charlene Belles clocked a 1:32.13 to win the 35-39 year-old division and finish fourth among all women, while Kathi Riba Crane finished in 1:45.40 to finish first in the 50-54 year-old division.