Victoria triathletes shine at Canada Games

Victoria triathletes helped get B.C. off to a fast start at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Colette Reimer rose to the top of the 30-woman field in the sprint triathlon in the opening day of triathlon competition in Welland, Ont.

“It is always really meaningful to race on home soil, so it is really exciting to take the win,” the 21-year-old Reimer told Triathlon Canada after finishing with a time of 1:06:16 to win the gold medal.

Prepared to face high heat and humidity in the race, Reimer quickly adjusted to the challenging conditions when she dove into the water for the 750-metre traditional rectangle-shaped swim course.

“I wanted to focus on the swim because it sometimes is what puts me back a bit. Team B.C. had all three of us hit the first buoy up at the front and we came out of the water together at the front,” said Reimer.

The wet conditions strung out the field in the five-lap, 20-kilometre bike course which allowed Reimer to break away with Saskatchewan’s Nata Kolesova and Alberta’s Sophia Howell.

The trio opened a big gap on the field and charged onto the unique five-lap run course. Reimer headed onto the fivekilometre run and never looked back.

Anja Krueger, of East St. Paul, Man., finished 16 seconds behind Reimer in the silver-medal position at 1:06:32. Alberta’s Sophia Howell hung on for third place and a time of 1:06:41.

In the men’s race, Victoria’s Daniel Damian chalked up a medal for B.C. after clocking a second-place time of 58:01.

Quebec City’s Mathis Beaulieu won the gold with a time of 57:43. Ontario’s 20-year-old Tristen Jones finished in the bronze medal position with a time of 58:39.

Elsewhere, B.C., with 10 silvers, leads the standings with 18 medals. Ontario, with a Gameshigh nine golds, is next at 17. Quebec (13), Alberta (11) and Manitoba (5) follow.