Mackenzie 16th at Kelowna Premium Pan Am Cup
By: Riptide Multisports
Dan Mackenzie traveled to Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada this weekend to compete in the ITU Kelowna Pan American Cup. The race served as the Canadian National Championships, and thus provided a star studded field in arguably the strongest triathlon nation. Mackenzie toed the line with 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Simon Whitfield (CAN).
Mackenzie exited the water in the midst of the third swim pack, but together they caught the second swim pack in the first lap of the bike. He remained in the second pack for the bike leg, entering the second transition in 18th. Once out on the run Dan moved up to 16th, earning coveted ITU points. ITU points are the basis for ITU Rankings, which are how USA Triathlon allocates starting positions for World Cup Events and World Championship Series Races, both of which are in Mackenzie’s plans for 2011. Performing well at those events earns athletes more points, which can eventually translate to Olympic Games qualification.
Riptide’s Ryan Borger also competed in Kelowna, finishing 39th despite competing with an infection in his lower leg that hampered his training for much of the previous week.
Mackenzie will be back in action on Sunday at the San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz. Borger will race this weekend at the Chicago International Triathlon.
Full results are available here.
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