By Glen Miller/Sports Editor

As competitors jumped into Lake El Reno last weekend for the start of the second annual Route 66 Triathlon, they were greeted by mild temperatures and a gentle breeze.

However, by the time the last swimmer exited the water, conditions were beginning to change.

Temperatures creeped closer to 90 degrees by mid-race and the winds kicked up over 15 miles per hour — with the occasional gust even higher.

“The toughest part was the heat,” Mustang co-coordinator Steve Bussjaeger said.

“It got a little hotter than we expected and it did take its toll. Those that competed in last year’s event had slower things this year due to the heat and the wind. It did some people in.”

Bussjaeger said he knew of only one athlete that required any medical assistance due to the conditions. The men’s division drew 123 entries, while the women’s field total 31 –- both of which were higher than Bussjaeger predicted.

“As far as the turnout we got, I was expecting around 130 and I knew 150 would be a plus. With all the various teams that we had in the relays, we had between 175 and 180 that competed,” Bussjaeger said.

The response from the racers, said Bussjaeger, was favorable. The event served as the Oklahoma State Championship for USA Triathlon as well as a state qualifier for the Best in the U.S. Triathlon.

“I got a few negatives about the lake road being pretty rough once you got back deep in there. Next year we are going to chance up the run course a little bit so that they won’t have to run so deep back into the woods on the lake road,” Bussjaeger said.

Next year could also bring another change, a possible sprint distance triathlon.

“We’re looking at the sprint distance triathlon for next yea and we’re about 85 percent sure we are going to do it. We haven’t decided if it will be at the same time as the regular triathlon or the day before,” Bussjaeger said.

A sprint distance triathlon is a smaller scale event, with competitors swimming around 500 yards, biking for 13 kilometers and running a 5-kilometer road race. The Third Annual Route 66 Triathlon, which is an Olympic distance event of 1.5 kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and a 10-kilometer run will be held June 3, 2007.

“We want to hold the sprint distance event so that we can pull in the novices,” Bussjaeger said. “The regular triathlon may be a little bit too much for the first timers. The sprint distance triathlon is set for those first timers and the weekend warriors.”

Bussjaeger said holding two triathlons would bring even more national attention to the race. This year’s event drew in state competitors from Altus to Tulsa and points in between. Out of state triathletes came from Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, South Carolina and Kansas.

“We drew about 20 from Texas and 10 from Arkansas, which was a good number,” Bussjaeger said. “I’m going to petition USA Triathlon to make this a regional; championship as well, which would bring in even more competitors from out of state.”

Amanda Stevens of Oklahoma City was the top female performer for this year’s triathlon with an overall time of 2:15.21. However, since she is a professional and Olympic hopeful for 2008, she was not eligible for the state title or the Best of U.S. berth.

She won the swimming event with a time of 20 minutes and 11 seconds, beating all competitors male or female. She was the second fastest female on the bike ride with a time of 1:10.03, while winning the female division in the 10K run with a time of 44 minutes and three seconds.

The female state title and the Best of the U.S. invitation went to Norman’s Christina Wolfe. She was second in the swim at 23minutes and 10 seconds, won the bike race for females with a time of 1:09.28 and placed third in the run for an overall time of 2:23.03.

The overall state champion in the men’s division was Chuck Sloan of Oklahoma City with a time of 2:04.25. He was third in the swim with a time of 26 minutes and 24 seconds, took second in the bike at 1:01.27 and won the 10K road race with a time of 35 minutes and 42 seconds.