CARSTAIRS - A local triathlete was the top finisher in her category at the Great White North Triathlon held July 8 in Stony Plain.
Sharon Styles of Carstairs finished first among the 32 entrants in the female 40-49 category with a time of 4:38:19. She finished fourth out of 98 total female entrants and 17th out of all 243 entrants.
The Great White North Triathlon was a half Iron distance triathlon with a 2km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run.
"My goal was to get to the podium," said Styles. "I've been fourth overall amongst all women every year I've done this race, so the goal was not fourth! My swim was 28:44, bike was 2:38 and run was 1:32."
In recent events Styles finished first among female competitors in triathlons in both Puerto Rico and Wasa Lake, B.C.
She has been competing in triathlons for 11 years and also coaches with both the Airdrie Triathlon Club and Team Trilife.
"I really like training hard and pushing myself," she said. "I love racing and the excitement of competing. I seem to be quite balanced across the board right now. I started from a running background but over the years my swimming and cycling have caught up. At the Great White North Traithlon I had the fastest female bike split."
Next up for Styles is the Calgary 70.3, a half Ironman triathlon.
