CARLSBAD - Nearly 1,000 triathletes took part in the 32nd annual Carlsbad Triathlon, which is presented by the City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department.
The legendary race -- one of the longest running municipal triathlons in the country -- took place this morning, Sunday, July 14, at Tamarack Beach and along the coast in Carlsbad with 981 participants in 30 divisions ranging in age from 14 to 90.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Finishing in first place in the Elite Men’s Division was Lukas Verzbicas of Chula Vista, while Michellie Jones of Carlsbad finished in first place in the Elite Women's Division for the second year in a row.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Verzbicas, who moved only months ago from Colorado Springs, Colo., to California, is training in Chula Vista at the Olympic Training Center with the goal of competing in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
He said he was thrilled to win his first triathlon since he broke his back in a car accident last year.
"It's relieving that I am coming back strong," he said.
Verzbicas said being injured in the accident has just made him more determined to accomplish his goals.
"It made me mentally stronger and taught me not to give up easily," he said, adding that he believes "it was a blessing in disguise."
For Jones, who has won the most Carlsbad Triathlons ever, including four of the past eight in the Women's Elite Division, the race has long since been a hometown tradition.
Indeed, Jones said she actually passes her house while she competes in the Carlsbad Triathlon.
"The course is right where I live," she said.
Among her triathlon successes, Jones is a two-time winner of the ITU World Championship and the ITU World Cup.
In addition, at the 2000 Summer Olympics, Jones took the Silver Medal in the inaugural triathlon event.
In 2006, she also won the Ironman Triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with a time of 9:18:31. With this victory, Jones became the first Australian woman to win an Ironman World Championship and it made her the second Australian in history to win the event.
Although Jones has competed around the world, she said she enjoys participating in the Carlsbad Triathlon.
"It's good to come home and race in your hometown," Jones said.
Unofficial results from the Carlsbad Triathlon include:
OVERALL - MEN
1. Lukas Verzbicas (Chula Vista, CA) ‑ 1:09:32.0
2. Chris Berg (La Jolla, CA) - 1:11:01.6
3. Marcel Rinzler (Irvine, CA) – 1:12:42.7
4. Juliano Teruel (San Diego, CA) – 1:12:49.2
5. Chris Fetter (Las Vegas, NV) – 1:13:03.8
OVERALL‑ WOMEN
1. Michellie Jones (Carlsbad, CA) – 1:15.30.5
2. Marcella Dimichieli (San Diego, CA) – 1:19:51.6
3. Megan Sullivan (Carlsbad, CA) -1:20:04.7
4. Madi Serpico (Calgary, AB) – 1:22:58.8
5. Brandy Bounds (Aliso Viejo, CA) ‑ 1:23:26.6
Check out the Carlsbad Triathlon website at www.carlsbadtriathlon.com for official race results and photos.
For more information, contact Rachael Shay, City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department, 760‑602-7519.
