Swim, pedal, run
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 10 months AGO
A competitor runs down a hill near City Beach during the start of the 5-kilometer run portion Sunday during the Whitefish Lake Triathlon. Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot
Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot Left, a competitor gives a thumbs up during the start of the 5-kilometer run Sunday during the Whitefish Lake Triathlon. Right, a competitor rides along Wisconsin Avenue during the biking portion of the Whitefish Lake Triathlon Sunday.
Competitors get ready to begin the annual Whitefish Lake Triathlon off City Beach Sunday morning. The spring triathlon consists of a half mile swim, a 20 kilometer bike ride and a 5 kilometer run. Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot
A competitor makes her way down Dakota Avenue Sunday during the run portion of the Whitefish Lake Triathlon. Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot
A competitor rides along Wisconsin Avenue during the biking portion of the Whitefish Lake Triathlon Sunday. Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot
A competitor heads out from City Beach at the beginning of the 20-kilometer bike portion of the Whitefish Lake Triathlon Sunday. Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot
Competitors in the Whitefish Lake Triathlon Sunday leave the transition area to begin the start of the 20-kilometer bike portion of the spring triathlon that begins and ends at City Beach. Heidi Desch / Whitefish Pilot
Sam Dauenhauer swims to shore at City Beach Sunday in the first leg of the Whitefish Lake Triathlon.
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | August 21, 2016 11:46 AM
The field of competitors at the Whitefish Lake Triathlon this year was smaller than in years past, but the competition was just as strong.
Just one minute separated the first, second and third place finishers in the men’s category. Jeff Brown of Kalispell came out on top with a time of 1:10:04.
About 30 competitors participated in the triathlon Sunday beginning and ending at City Beach. Kalispell Athletic Club sponsors the annual event.
Brown was in sixth coming out of the half-mile open swim off of City Beach. He was able to make up ground in the bike portion of the race finishing third with a pace of 21 mph hour on the 20K bike ride up East Lakeshore Drive. He pulled into first during the 5K run around the City Beach neighborhood finishing that section of the race in 19:52.
Jeremy Oury of Whitefish was just behind him finishing in second with a time of 1:11:22 and Tim Gaertner of Whitefish took third with a time of 1:12:44.
On the womens side, Jacqueline Gaertner of Whitefish handily took first place with a time of 1:18:37. She lead the way throughout the sprint triathlon taking the top spot in each section of the race. She finished the open swim in 15:55. Then continued her lead on the bike finishing that section in 36:18. She ran the 5K with a time of 23:42.
Alison Pomerantz of Kalispell took second in the women’s competition with a time of 1:31:35 and Leann Books of Helena took third with a time of 1:32:20.
Mens Overall
1 Jeff Brown Kalispell MT 1:10:04.87
2 Jeremy Oury Whitefish MT 1:11:22.55
3 Tim Gaertner Whitefish MT 1:12:44.12
4 Cameron Vance San Diego CA 1:12:44.94
5 Ted Burnham Kalispell MT 1:14:20.32
6 Loy Sullivan Whitefish MT 1:17:31.16
7 Paul Conrad Whitefish MT 1:20:18.53
8 Samuel Dauenhauer Whitefish MT 1:25:01.99
9 Kevin Keith Lethbridge AB 1:32:42.27
10 Jim Mepham Eureka MT 1:34:15.49
11 Pete Torbergson Missoula MT 1:40:52.20
12 Rex Anderson Phoenix AZ 1:45:05.10
13 Jesse McFarland Kalispell MT 2:05:38.83
Womens Overall
1 Jacqueline Gaertner Whitefish MT 1:18:37.83
2 Alison Pomerantz Kalispell MT 1:31:35.53
3 Leann Books Helena MT 1:32:20.96
4 Carolyn Lisle Libby MT 1:33:38.31
5 Rhea Balderston Calgary 1:34:17.99
6 Patricia Keith Lethbridge AB 1:34:25.41
7 Terese Boeder Whitefish MT 1:38:30.47
8 Robin Schiferl Libby MT 1:45:53.60
9 Julie Knapp Kalispell MT 1:48:30.63
10 Beth Balderston Calgary 1:58:54.63
11 Anna Robinson Whitefish MT 2:09:18.50
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