 Erica Hawley IslandStats.com
Tyler Butterfield and Erica Hawley will start as firm favorites to take overall male and female honors over the 750 meter Swim, 20km Bike and 5km Run course.
Last year Hawley was second to defending champion Martina Olcheski – Bell by over two minutes but since then the 18 year old has made huge strides competing on the World’s Junior Elite Circuit. In a strong Women’s field, in addition to Olcheski – Bell, Hawley will also have to watch out for Ashley Estanwik who just over a month ago was second in her age group at the North American Ironman 70.3 Championships and Cora Lee Howes (Starzomski).
With Estanwik being a strong runner, Hawley will need to have a reasonable time cushion going into the run but her strong swim and much improved run could prove to be the difference between them. Another Junior to watch will be 16 year old Lynsey Palmer who was 24th overall last year but has already shown in the super sprint series that she should improve on that result this year. Marie-Lyne Dore and Kristin Palmer, if she enters, are others to watch.
Sadly, a possible close battle between the two Tylers, Butterfield and Smith, is not going to happen as the talented junior and defending champion is in Victoria, BC training with coach Kelly Guest preparing for his 2016 junior elite races.
Chasing behind Butterfield this year will be 16 year old Matthew Oliviera, who was 3rd last year, an exceptional cyclist who has been in excellent form in the BAA’s races his season, Oliviera is originally from a Triathlon background and is no slouch on the swim and run.
Others to watch include Geoff Smith and Matt Thompson and the much improved Tim Patterson and Byron Rencken. Should Spencer Butterfield or Tucker Murphy produce late entries they too could well take a podium position.
In addition to battling for overall honors participants will be looking to podium in their age group and there are also school team and individual categories for school prizes.
The school team event has been in for a number of years and only new comers to the event would not know this has been going on.
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