Hundreds of swimmers, bicyclists and runners competed in the 21st annual Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club Triathlon Saturday in Winona Lake. There were 455 people who participated, according to Ron Donkers, race director. The triathlon included a 1/4-mile swim, a 13.8-mile bike ride from Winona Lake to Pierceton and back to Winona Lake and a 3.8-mile run along the Greenway around Southtown Addition and back to Winona Lake Park. Matt York, 39, Kokomo, won the Overall Male Finisher Award. It was his second year for doing the triathlon. His finishing time was 1 hour, 7 minutes and 7 seconds. York said to train for the triathlon he would swim a couple times a week and biked and ran four times a week. He said the most challenging thing was the swim because water got in his goggles. The event is a fundraiser for the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club that assists children. “As a teacher of seventh grade math in Kokomo I feel kids are our future and it’s important to put stock in their future,” York said. Amy Kuitse, 51, South Bend, received the Overall Female Finisher Award. Her finishing time was 1 hour, 14 minutes and 39 seconds. It was her second year for competing in the triathlon. She said the most challenging thing was the swim. “The volunteers do a great job and this is a well organized race and a nice course,” Kuitse said. Robert McKeague, 89, Chicago, received the Inspiration Award for the 85 and older age bracket.
