Team BC triathletes strike gold in men’s relay

The men’s triathlon team won a decisive gold medal in the men’s relay at Birds Hill Provincial Park on Thursday morning.

The race consists of three athletes, all of whom complete a 250m swim, a 6.6km bike and a 1.4km run, with the last runner doing 1.6km to the finish line.

The lead racer for Team BC was Michael Milic (Delta), the silver medalist from the individual sprint event earlier in the week.  He had a strong leg keeping up with the leaders and handed off to Brock Hoel (West Kelowna) who was just a few seconds behind heading out in the swim and was able to gain a 15 second lead coming out of the water. By the time he handed off to the anchor leg with Adien Longcroft-Harris (Victoria),  the lead over Team Quebec was 53 seconds. 

Longcroft-Harris also had a strong swim gaining the lead to over a minute and he stayed strong on the bike and ran through the finish shoot holding the BC flag and into the arms of his teammates.

Quotes:
MILIC, Michael (Delta)

On first leg of the race battling it out with Ontario and Quebec
“I was trying to get a gap but they were all pretty close so I worked with them on the bike and chased them down on the run.” 

HOEL, Brock Hoel (West Kelowna)

On solid swim to take the lead on the second leg
“I managed to come out of the swim with a 15-second lead, so a wicked swim.  I haven’t done that before!”

LONGCROFT-HARRIS, Aiden (Victoria)

On starting with 53 second lead
“When you have that big of a gap, it can be hard to push yourself. But you have to set carrots for yourself and just drill it.”

On how it feels to win with his team
“It feels like a lot of hard work paid off for my teammates and myself.   We all really committed to a plan and gave it our all and I think that is the best reward.”

The final race for Triathlon is the mixed relay taking place on Friday.