It was a cold and wet day on Canada’s west coast today as close to 600 age-group athletes brave the tough conditions at the 2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships.

Click here to watch videos from the 2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships!!

The first wave ran into the chilly waters of English Bay in Vancouver at 6:30am.  After a point-to-point swim over to Second Beach, athletes then rode through the city’s iconic Stanley Park.  After the 5-kilometer run through the streets of Vancouver’s west end, the wet but elated athletes trickled across the finish line.  Among today’s finishers was Loreen Barnett, executive director of the International Triathlon Union, who finished fourth in the women’s 60-64 age category.  Barnett admitted she was tempted to quit early in the swim after the shock of the cold water.  But she hung in there and finished strong, posting a 28-minute run split. 

Click here for Age Group Sprint Distance Results.

Click here for photos from today’s sprint distance world championships

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