Triathletes triumphant

SUTHERLIN — Laura Jackson shivered somewhat while standing in the parking lot at Cooper Creek Reservoir, waiting for the start of the duathlon portion of the Umpqua Ultimate to begin Saturday morning.

It had rained overnight and with a cloud cover and wind blowing across the water, it was a bit nippy. Still, the Roseburg resident tried to find the positive.

“It’s warmed up two degrees,” she said, laughing. Jackson signed up to compete in the 40-kilometer road bike portion of the race, while her son, Chayse Jackson, 15, a sophomore at Roseburg High School, took part in the 10-kilometer running portion.

“I’m doing this as a way to keep fit for wrestling,” said Chayse Jackson, who also runs on Roseburg High’s cross-country team.

Laura Jackson said she has been racing competitively for 20 years and was looking forward to cycling on the course from Cooper Creek into Sutherlin. This was her first time competing at the Umpqua Ultimate, in its third year.

“I like the camaraderie, it keeps you fit, the food is awesome and you can always use another (race) T-shirt,” she said.

Glide resident Sandy Hendy came with her daughter, Laura Hendy. It was the first time they had competed in a duathlon.

“We figured we didn’t have anything to do this weekend, so we’d come out here,” Sandy Hendy said.

Nearly 300 competitors took part in either the duathlon, the triathlon, which added swimming to the biking and the running segments, and in 5- and 10-kilometer run/walks.

The run/walks were added this year and organizers said they were pleased with the turnout. The first two years, the event catered to the most serious athletes, race volunteer Debbie Robertson said. This year, there were more events for a wider range of athletes, she said.

“I think we’ve hit our niche,” Robertson said.

• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.