However, a few competitors transversed the landscape around Morgan Lake with relative ease during the Solstice Triathlon Saturday.
Jason Jablonski returned to La Grande after winning the event in 2006. The Wenatchee, Wash., native was the first person to finish. His time of 2:19.30 broke the previous course record of 2:23.00. Jablonski also won the event in 2005.
“When he called to tell me he was coming, I made sure to let him know what the record was,” race director MaryEllen LaBerge. “It’s amazing to see how well he did. That’s a great time.”Kerri Grosse of Leavenworth, Wash., completed the course in 2:55.31, a new women’s course record.
La Grande native Korrie Dubray finished 13th overall. She tied the previous course record at 2:57.
“It’s great to see the local athletes do well,” LaBerge said. “We had 48 people from Union and Wallowa counties competing. That’s an amazing number. It was a great year.”
Extreme races can bring on extreme danger. LaBerge can testify to that first hand.
Taking a break from hosting the event, LaBerge took part in triathlon. But she failed to follow her own warning.
“I told everyone during the spaghetti feed the night before where the toughest part of the course is. The powerline is the only part of the course we’ve had someone get hurt on.”
LaBerge took a tumble trying to make it across the rocky slope on her bike. She broke her collar bone in the process.
“It’s one of those things that happens,” LaBerge said. “You warn people about it, and then it’s you that gets hurt.”
Tim Elliot, a La Grande local, finished his first event in 3:29.07.
“I don’t think I could have trained any harder,” Elliot said. “There was nothing left in the tank when I got done.
My legs felt like lead while I was trying to run, but I still had energy. It’s a hard feeling to try and explain. I was dead to the world the rest of the day. I couldn’t even mow the lawn when I got home.”
The beginning looked like it might make for a long day. Elliot was the next to last swimmer to transition from the water to the bike course.
He moved up from 64th throughout the race to finish 37th.
“I don’t think I realized how tough that was going to be,” Elliot said. “I felt pretty comfortable once I got the my bike. I was able to pass some people.
“It’s just great to have been part of an event like this. Everything about it was fantastic. I can’t wait to do it again.”
Team results were unavailable. The Observer will follow up the results in Tuesday’s edition.
Top finishers
1. Jason Jablonski, Wenatchee, Wa., Men 35-39, 2:19.30; 2. Matt Berg, Milwaukie, Mens 35-39, 2:27.46; 3. Ryan Brown, Richland, Wa., Men 30-34, 2:30.31; 4. Erik DeRoche, Bellingham, Wa., Men 30-34, 2:33.56; 5. Raul Garcia, Boise, Idaho, Men 35-39, 2:38.04.
Area results
13. Korrie Dubray, La Grande, Women 35-39, 2:57.17; 14. Cory Larvik, La Grande, Men 35-39, 2:57.59; 21. Andy Perry, La Grande, Men 40-44, 3:03.37; 29. Sandy Isbell, La Grande, Women 25-29, 3:13.17; 35. Nathan Coffey, La Grande, Men 30-34, 3:22.30; 37. Tim Elliott, La Grande, Men 55-59, 3:29.07; 41. John Bodfish, La Grande, Men 50-54, 3:35.21; 48. Karl Schroeder, Enterprise, Men 20-24, 3:45.46; 50. Dawn Chamberlain, Wallowa, Women 30-34, 3:53.58; Donald Bly, La Grande, Men 50-54, 4:01.15.
