COEUR d'ALENE - Roger Thompson hadn't raced an Olympic-distance event for two years, but he was no stranger to the Coeur d'Alene Triathlon.

"I think I've raced every course they've had here, and it's always been a bit of a cruel mistress for me," the 39-year-old triathlete said. "Something always hadn't hit just right. Today, it went really well."

Thompson posted the fastest time on Saturday morning, sprinting across the finish line at City Park as the clock struck 2 hours, 7 seconds. He had conquered the rocky waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the steep climbs of the Centennial Trail.

"This bike course is a tough course," said Thompson, who lives in Spokane. "There's no hiding in there. You have to ride it honestly. It's a great course."

Oddly enough, Thompson wasn't the first athlete to finish on Saturday. That distinction belonged to Derek Garcia of Post Falls, 26, who notched a fast-paced time of 2:02:06 and took home a second-place medal.

But because the two men raced in separate age groups, Thompson started 10 minutes behind, and Garcia finished before anyone else.

"I couldn't have went any faster today," Garcia said. "It's a bummer that we couldn't see each other, but I don't think it would have made a difference. And if anything, it was a disadvantage to Roger."

Just a few minutes behind the leaders, Holly Walker of Bozeman, Mont., was the first female finisher. Her time was 2:17:45.

The swim was a little choppy, Walker said, and the bike was characteristically tough.

"It's a different course. You kinda forget you're racing for a while," the 36-year-old added. "You're just trying to get up the mountain."

Walker had raced the Coeur d'Alene Triathlon several times, and won it once before. She felt awesome on the run, she said.

"Nice and flat. Can't beat that."

Hundreds of men, women and youngsters participated in this year's event, which was sanctioned by USA Triathlon. They raced individually, or formed teams and competed as a unit.

Starting at 7 a.m., the racers splashed into the water near Independence Point and swam a 1.5 kilometer course.

After jogging across the beach, they boarded their bikes and rolled through downtown Coeur d'Alene. All told, the cycling section was 40 kilometers of hard pedaling.

"Well, it was my first race," said Brent Ditto of Post Falls. "Course is tough. The bike ride is nasty."

His goal was three hours, and he beat it. Despite the hills and hardships, the 2011 event won't be his last triathlon, Ditto said.

The final hurdle was 10 kilometers on a winding run course. Racers enjoyed the view of the Spokane River as they trotted along the dike road.

Ami Mazur, an experienced triathlete from Moscow, has participated in the Cd'A Tri about 10 times.

"The course was great, the volunteers were nice. I love doing this race," she said. "It's a great event. It's challenging, and it's pretty."

Friends and family cheered the racers all over town. Several participants commented on the friendly, spirited environment.

"Great fans and setup," Walker said. "Coeur d'Alene rocks."