The five ladies (from left) Becky Becker, Diane Huskey, Lani Fettig, Krista Clement, and Dorene Ingalls, competed in the Grand Haven YMCA Triathalon. Two LaSalle High School (LHS) coaches and three former Eastern Upper Peninsula athletes competed in the Grand Haven YMCA Triathlon Sunday, July 9.

Diane Huskey, St. Ignace girls track coach, finished fourth overall in the Half Ironman Division and won the 35-39 age class with a time of five hours and five minutes in the combined swimming, bicycle, and running events, in that order.

The trio of Dorene Ingalls, Saints girls varsity basketball coach, and LHS graduates Lani Johnson Fettig and Krista Clement competed as a team.

Ingalls competed in the swimming event that was shortened from 1.2 miles (2,000 meters) to 300 meters due to high winds. Fettig took part in the 13-mile run and completed the course in two hours and 17 minutes, and Clement completed the 56-mile bicycle ride in three hours.

Becky Moore Becker, Pickford alumnus who competed in the Olympic Division that included swimming, 25 mile bike ride, and 10K (6.2 miles) run, finished first in the 30-34 age group and 11th overall, with a time of two hours and 20 minutes.

"The toughest part for me was the running after the bicycle event," said Huskey. "The run should have been my strongest event. Swimming is my weakest link, but after the event was shortened, it became a little easier."

"I was excited about the event and was pleased with my effort," said Ingalls. "I have competed in one other triathlon, but that was during my sophomore year in college."

"I was impressed with the courage that Dorene showed during the competition," added Huskey. "I just wonder what I would have done if I had been in her situation. She coaches with strong work ethics, compassion, and courage and during preparation and in the event she displayed the same attitude." "The course started out flat along the boardwalk and made two loops, finishing the final 1.2 miles on a cross country ski trail with hills and sand," said Fettig, who replaced her sister, Randi Johnson, in the competition. "I was happy with my time and as a team with Krista and Dorene we had fun. I plan on competing at triathlons in Mackinaw City and Petoskey before the summer is completed."

"The bicycle event was the toughest thing I have done," said Clement. "Maybe I could have trained much better, but overall it was fun competing with Dorene and Lani."

"I was pleased with my time during my first triathlon this season, and fourth overall," said Becker. "What impressed me about Dorene was at the start, everyone else walked from shore to the first buoy, but with Dorene's condition she had to swim out against some strong waves. I just thought, 'don't give up,' and when she handled that situation it gave me inspiration."