Southeasters Blow through Idaho Triathlon

High Cadence Triathlon coach Jamie Bursell finishes the half Ironman 70.3 Coeur d'Alene in Idaho over the weekend. (courtesy photo)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Southeast triathletes from the High Cadence Triathlon Team put in a strong showing at the Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene over the weekend, using the 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run as IRONMAN Alaska practice.

  Juneau’s John Bursell placed second, Jamie Bursell fifth, Eliza Dorn 16th, Corrie Weikle 52nd and Petersburg’s Tom Thompson 34th in their respective age groups. 

  John Bursell of High Cadence Triathlon Team placed second out of 109 triathletes in his age group (55-59) with a time of four hours 55 minutes and 48 seconds. The time was also the 109th fastest out of 1,395 male competitors and 127th out of the overall 2,134 entrants. There were 671 female competitors.

  “The Coeur d’Alene half Ironman was a practice race and a training race to get ready for IRONMAN Alaska,” Bursell said. “I think I did OK.”

  The overall best time went to male Justin Riele (25-29) from San Francisco, California, who hit 4:00:02 and the best women’s time went to Becca Kawaoka from Auburn, Washington, in 4:28:21 for 31st place overall out of 2,134.

  Bursell swam the 1.2-mile course in Lake Coeur d’Alene in 33:42 for ninth in his age group, 189th in his gender and 269th overall. He had a transition time of 4:21 from swim to bike. Bursell’s bike time of 2:37:27 over the 56 miles was fifth in his AG, 125th in his gender and 137th overall. His second transition from bike to the run was 2:13. Bursell then hit the 13.1-mile run in 1:38:07, a time that was fourth in his AG, 142nd in his gender and 170th overall.

  With the transitions, Bursell’s efforts totaled the 4:55:48, a time he would like to double for IRONMAN Alaska.

  “Normally you would double the time and add, maybe, 10% or something like that,” he said. “Five or 10% if you were racing for an all-out finish. I don’t think I will be able to do the IRONMAN in under 10 hours but that is my lofty goal…”

  Juneau’s Eliza Dorn hit 5:22:35 to place 16th in her age group (35-39) out of 90 athletes, 61st place overall by gender and 341st place overall. Her swim time was 34:59 for 18th AG, 99th by gender and 375th overall. Her first transition was 3:54. Her bike time was 22:48 for 16th AG, 62nd gender and 433rd overall. Her second transition was 2:55. Her run time was 1:48:58 for 17th AG, 83rd gender and 428th overall.

  Juneau’s Corrie Weikle hit 6:15:46 for 52nd out of 111 athletes in her age group (30-34), 250th by gender and 1,029th overall. Her swim time was 34:39 for 21st in AG, 89th by gender and 336th overall. Her first transition time was 4:30. Her bike time was 3:13:57 for 44th AG, 240th by gender and 1,100th overall. Her second transition was 3:57. Her run time was 2:18:45 for 79th AG, 374th gender and 1,312th overall.

  Petersburg’s Tom Thompson finished in 5:47:11 for 34th out of 109 athletes in his AG, 491st in his gender and 639th out of all participants. His swim time was 41:30 for 60th in his AG, 754th gender and 1,092nd overall. His first transition was 5:56. His bike time was 2:59:02 for 38th AG, 530th gender and 655th overall. His second transition was 4:21. His run time was 1:56:25 for 30th AG, 474th gender and 641st overall.

  “Training in Petersburg has actually been really good because we have easy access to the pool,” Thompson said. “And when the weather is good, the riding is great especially on a gravel bike out Frederick Point Road. The running has been lacking because I don’t have my running partner Soren (Thompson) in town with me but it’s been fun to watch the other High Cadence folks on Strava.”

  Bursell, Dorn, Weikle and Thompson are all part of the High Cadence Triathlon Team trained by Juneau’s Jamie Bursell who also competed.

  Jamie Bursell hit 6:10:26 to place fifth out of 19 athletes in her age group (60-64), 231st by gender and 962nd overall. Her swim time was 38:13 for 5th AG, 197th gender and 707th overall. Her first transition was 5:25. Bike time was 3:10:30 for 6th AG, 207th gender and 994th overall. Her second transition was 3:13. Run time was 2:13:07 for 8th AG, 312nd gender and 1,148th overall.

  Other Alaskans included Anchorage male Todd Jackson in 4:39:09 for 5th out of 160 in AG (45-49), 53rd in gender and 56th overall; Anchorage male Andrew Kirk finishing in 4:59:20 for 2nd out of 87 in his AG (60-64), 130th in his gender and 152nd overall; Kodiak female Ashley Frost in 8:03:00 for 85th out of 90 in her AG (35-39), 631st gender and 2,030th overall; and Homer female Amanda Miotke in 7:25:21 for 94th out of 122 in AG (40-44), 528th gender and 1,809th overall.