Riptide Records 2 Top-10 Finishes at Boulder Peak and Other Weekend Race Action

By: Riptide Multisports

Jordan Jones, Josh Merrick, and Ryan Borger raced in Colorado’s most prestigious Olympic-distance triathlon on Sunday.  Held at the Boulder Reservoir for the 19th straight year, the race attracts many of the sport’s top athletes.  Over 1,800 athletes competed in the 2010 event which is now owned and operated by WTC (Ironman Corporation).

Ryan Borger heads out onto the run at the 2010 Boulder Peak Triathlon

Jordan Jones led the way for the Riptide Elite Team, finishing 7th overall.  Jordan used his ever-improving swim to come out of the water on the heels of former Ironman World Champion Tim DeBoom.  He worked his way up to 4th place by the top of Olde Stage, the infamous climb about 5 miles into the bike leg.  However, he could not hold his position and slipped back to 8th place to come in for the run.  Out on the run, with the 3 loop course flanked by enthusiastic fans, Jones was able to pass one more athlete to finish in 7th.  Josh Merrick finished 10th, making up ground lost on the swim with a swift bike split, and an even swifter run.  Merrick had the 2nd fastest run split of the day, registering 33:05 for the 10k run in intense heat.  Ryan Borger, in his first test against a field of seasoned professionals finished 11th.

Also racing this weekend were Matt Balzer and Dan Mackenzie at the San Francisco ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup.  Balzer finished 45th and Mackenzie finished 51st against a quality field.

In youth races this weekend, Brock Arends finished 6th and Brittany Blish 7th at the Avon IronKids Triathlon in the 11-year-old bracket.  Charlotte Blish finished 4th in the 9-year-old bracket, qualifying her for the IronKids National Championships.  14 year old Fiona Dretzka also competed and finished 2nd in her division, also qualifying her for the IronKids National Championships.  The IronKids National Championships  will be held in St. Petersburg, Florida in September.

Bryan Rhodes and Jordan Jones on the Boulder Peak run

Jordan Jones with 1 lap to go on the Boulder Peak run