Adaptable Athletes Pivot to Duathlon as Lott Creek Launches Competitive Youth and Junior Season
The youth and junior multisport season officially kicked off this past weekend at Lott Creek, bringing together Western Canada’s premier young talent for a high-stakes weekend of racing. The multi-faceted event served as the Youth and Junior Provincial Championships, a crucial Youth and Junior Cup leg, the Western Canada Series opener, and a key stop on the National Development Series circuit.
However, the weekend was not without its dramatic pre-race challenges. Following an unusual amount of heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the event, local authorities discovered that stormwater runoff had caused E. coli levels in the lake to spike to unsafe conditions. Faced with water unfit for swimming, race organizers made a decision to pivot the traditional triathlon into a duathlon (run-bike-run). Despite the sudden shift in format, the young athletes demonstrated remarkable resilience, showing up at the starting line ready to adapt and chase the podium.
Race Day Results
The change in format did little to slow down the field, as athletes across all age divisions delivered fierce performances on the modified course. The top finishers for the Lott Creek event included:
12 to 13 Division: Landon Lau took the top spot for the boys, followed closely by Matthew Bogaars in second and Maximiliano Rayas-Ferado in third. On the girls' side, Maelle Robert captured first place, with Melia Swinkels-Santo securing second.
14 to 15 Division: Kehlan Duncan claimed victory in the boys' race, outlasting runner-up Thomas August Kenny and third-place finisher Will Zinken. In the girls' field, Trillian Klinkhamer stood atop the podium, with Sana Japanwala finishing second.
16 to 19 Division: Hudson Quinn drove a hard pace to win the oldest boys' bracket, beating out Avery Steinke in second and Tomas Chalupa in third. The girls' division saw Brooke Rousselle claim gold, with Paula Clements and Kamilla Bagautdinova taking second and third, respectively.
Wide-Open Race for the Youth and Junior Cup
Lott Creek marked the highly anticipated summer opener of the Youth and Junior Cup, building on momentum from two previously held winter events. Designed to help rising stars climb the National Performance Pathway, the series focuses on providing year-round competitive opportunities. Winter training and racing allow athletes to sustain the critical skill development necessary for the high-intensity, draft-legal summer events—including the Provincial Youth and Junior Cup Racing Series, the National Development Series, and World Triathlon CAMTRI events.
Because the final series standings are calculated using an athlete's best score from the two winter races combined with their top two finishes out of the three summer races, officials stress that the series title is still entirely up for grabs as the circuit moves forward.
The next leg of the summer circuit will take athletes to the Beaumont Triathlon, before concluding with the season finale at Sherwood Park.
Current Standings Shake-Up
Following the action at Lott Creek, the current points standings showcase tight battles across several divisions:
Youth 12 to 13 Male: Luke Shopland and Lott Creek champion Landon Lau are locked in a dead heat for first place with 100 points each.
Youth 12 to 13 Female: Maelle Robert commands a strong lead with 225 points, while Melia Swinkels-Santo sits in second with 190 points.
Youth 14 to 15 Male: Will Zinkin holds the overall series lead with 215 points, tightly pursued by Thomas August Kenny at 210 points.
Youth 14 to 15 Female: Brechen Kennedy and Trillian Klinkhamer share the spotlight, currently tied at the top with 100 points apiece.
Youth 16 to 19 Male: Hudson Quinn sits comfortably in the lead with 200 points, while Tomas Chalupa and Tucker Buhler track closely behind, tied for second with 185 points.
Youth 16 to 19 Female: Taryn Shalapay leads the field with 185 points, holding a 20-point advantage over Payten Barr at 165 points
Western Canada Series Targets High-Performance Growth
In tandem with the regional cup, Lott Creek served as the opening leg of the prestigious Western Canada Series (WCDS). The three-part series is specifically engineered to provide high-level, draft-legal racing and crucial developmental experiences closer to home for Western Canadian Junior and U23 triathletes.
By upgrading the quality of regional events and supporting local organizing committees, the WCDS aims to build a sustainable high-performance culture. The series acts as a vital bridge for athletes aged 14 to 15 and older to hone their draft-legal skills, prepare for the National Development Series, and ultimately earn selection to Canadian national teams.
With the first leg in the books, the Western Canada Series now shifts its focus across provincial borders. The athletes will meet next in July at Echo Lake, Saskatchewan, before traveling to British Columbia for the finale at the Kelowna Apple Triathlon.