Great Falls triathlon is a family affair
Catherine Lyerly was inspired by her 5-year-old son to do her first triathlon.
When Caden Lyerly heard about the RaceMT Triathlon, he wanted to do it.
“I figured if he was brave enough, I was brave enough,” Lyerly said.
On Sunday, mother and son each finished their first triathlon at the ninth annual RaceMT Triathlon held at the Electric City Water Park.
Their mantra for the day was to be “the toughest and the bravest,” Caden said.
“And have fun,” Catherine Lyerly added.
Caden is new to swimming and biking. His bike only recently had it’s training wheels removed.
“He just learned how to ride his bike this summer,” Catherine Lyerly said.
Catherine, on the other had, had a baby four months ago, and training for a triathlon was great motivation to get back on the bike and back in the pool.
The Lyerly family was one of many with with multiple generations competing in the RaceMT Triathlon.
The event is designed to be family friendly, said organizer Ronald Ray.
The adult race starts two hours before the kids race to give parents a chance to cheer on the youngsters.
“The parents who are running can run and then watch their kids,” Ray said.
The adult race includes a 500-meter swim, 12.2-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. Kids can choose between a long course with a 100-meter swim, 3-mile bike and 1-mile run, or a short course with a 50-meter swim, 1-mile bike and half-mile run.
As the kids lined up to take their turn in the pool, parents, who had just finished their own races, stood by to give them encouragement.
“I have a kid who’s 3 years old this year,” Ray said of the youngest racer. “Our oldest participant is 60.”
Nick Hill of Helena has done several triathlons including a full Iron Man. However, his role Sunday at the sprint-distance triathlon was one of support crew.
“My wife and daughter are in the tri today,” he said.
For his 6-year-old daughter Katie, it was her second triathlon. She did one earlier this year in Helena.
His wife Anna Hill also took up the sport this year.
His son Tristan who is 4 is excited to try a triathlon next summer.
In addition to attracting families, the race takes a whole community to organize, Ray said. The race wouldn’t be possible without volunteers.
“A lot of people come out of the wood work,” he said.
The Great Falls Amateur Radio Club lines the bike course to keep competitors safe.
“It goes six miles out of town on public roads that are not closed,” said Bruce Clark, emergency coordinator for the club. “We can communicate with our radios and keep track of everyone.”
A bike mechanic from Scheels was on hand to help people with their bicycles, and numerous volunteers from Malmstrom Air Force Base helped with the race. The staff at the Electric City Water Park is an integral piece of getting swimmers in the pool.
“The pool folks, without them, this is totally impossible,” Ray said.
Hannah Kittleson. 12, competed in the adult course with her dad.
“This year, I did a team with my dad,” she said. “I did the swim and the run.”
Sunday’s race was Kittleson’s fifth or sixth triathlon.
“I like how nice everyone is,” she said of the sport. “I just love the atmosphere.”
Last year, Kittleson did the youth course on her own. Her next goal: the full adult course by herself.
“That’s my plan for next year,” she said.
RaceMT Triathlon results
Top 20 female finishers: (place, name, home town, age and time)
1. Keely West, Great Falls, 23, 1:05:26.37
2. Lisa Badger, Great Falls, 33, 1:11:59.18
3. Amanda McGowan, Helena, 34, 1:12:24.04
4. Mary Barfield, Great Falls, 33, 1:15:09.15
5. Amy Rothweiler, Jerome, Idaho, 40 1:16:45.14
6. Marisa Hardy, Helena, 44 1:16:52.80
7. Jaimie Miller, Whitefish, 36, 1:17:30.54
8. Laura Duffy, Great Falls, 14, 1:18:00.22
9. Sarah Law, Billings, 34, 1:20:16.30
10. Kassie Kidrick, Dillon, 30, 1:21:42.18
11. Karla Van Der Ploeg, Clovis, N.M., 29, 1:23:48.78
12. Jessica Kennedy-Stiffarm, Havre, 32, 1:24:48.50
13. Melissa Kingsland, Great Falls, 36, 1:25:40.16
14. Phoebe Dunker, Fort Collins, Colo., 34, 1:28:48.38
15. Gretchen Fowell, Great Falls, 39, 1:29:30.22
16. Sarah Sentz, Choteau, 29, 1:30:51.60
17. Michele Levine, Great Falls, 35, 1:33:14.29
18. Amanda Murray, Great Falls, 31, 1:34:06.92
19. Karie Pietrykowski, Great Falls, 28, 1:34:52.55
20. Kaila Acres, Great Falls, 25, 1:36:40.32
Top 20 male finishers:
1. Gary Schoenhals, Great Falls, 34, 1:07:11.01
2. Nathan Spradley, Great Falls, 32, 1:08:39.01
3. Wade Stover, Great Falls, 50, 1:08:39.59
4. Jacob Babich, Great Falls, 31, 1:09:44.97
5. Travis Rothweiler, Jerome, Idaho, 43, 1:11:21.06
6. Dave Adams, Lethbridge, Alberta, 57, 1:11:52.03
7. Jeffrey Cumber, Great Falls, 36, 1:12:24.14
8. Cooper West, Great Falls, 15, 1:12:37.33
9. Steve L'Heureux, Great Falls, 60, 1:13:06.80
10. Oliver Barfield, Malmstrom AFB, 34, 1:13:46.19
11. Forrest Bouge, Great Falls, 31, 1:14:28.02
12. Jeff Bobick, Black Eagle, 33, 1:15:33.61
13. Joel Auers, Great Falls, 42, 1:16:07.75
14. Patrick Hodges, Great Falls, 17, 1:17:04.14
15. Ryan Edwards, Yellowstone, 28 1:17:06.67
16. Thomas Meadows, Great Falls, 38, 1:17:22.72
17. Richard Lopes, Great Falls, 41, 1:19:39.71
18. Dwight Fontenot, Great Falls, 43, 1:19:40.36
19. Joseph Peabody, Missoula, 36, 1:19:47.15
20. Steve Fitzpatrick, Great Falls, 36, 1:20:08.20
Top five girls in youth long course:
1. Naia Tower-Pierce, East Burke, Vt., 12, 27:25.11
2. Nina Badger, Great Falls, 10, 30:22.26
3. Ellie McMasters, Havre, 12, 30:37.13
4. Marley Taylor, Great Falls, 11, 36:11.60
5. Kaylin Taylor, Great Falls, 9, 40:28.32
Top five boys in youth long course:
1. Mathew McMasters, Havre, 8, 23:41.03
2. Noah Azure, Havre, 14, 25:31.87
3. Marcus Rhoades, Great Falls, 9, 32:30.98
4. Colby Aderhold, Great Falls, 33:00.35
5. Jacob Collins, Great Falls, 14, 33:21.38
Top five girls in youth short course:
1. Ella Holthaus, Great Falls, 9, 16:04.39
2. Charlee Murray, Great Falls, 9 16:09.67
3. Willow Riggin, Havre, 10, 16:26.48
4. Teagen Flint, Manhattan, 6, 16:36.03
5. Angelina Schoenhals, Great Falls, 9, 17:13.73
Top five boys in youth short course:
1. Alex Reeves, Great Falls, 8, 14:23.36
2. Finn Tower-Pierce, East Burke, Vt., 10, 14:38.06
3. Alec Azure, Havre, 12, 14:51.77
4. Michael Perkins, Great Falls, 9, 15:50.75
5. Kristian Olsen-Makdessian, San Francisco, 8, 16:19.73