Winning a race in Alaska is impressive. But winning Outside carries another level of credibility.
Kinsey Laine, the 2015 Gold Nugget Triathlon champion from Fairbanks, dominated the Olympic-distance Lavaman Triathlon in Hawaii on April 10, taking the women’s division by more than seven minutes in 2 hours, 11 minutes.
“This was a big milestone for me,” Laine said of her first triathlon win outside of Alaska. “It’s a big confidence booster.”
Laine, a former swimmer and current assistant coach at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, finished the 1,500-meter swim with a 2 ½-minute lead and extended that through a windy 40K bike ride and 10K run. She took 14th overall among more than 2,000 male and female participants.
Making the victory extra special is that her coach, Matt Lieto of Bend, Ore., won the men’s division while her partner, Marcus Farris, placed fifth. Rebecca McKee of Anchorage was third woman overall.
Scores of Alaskans traveled to the event on the Big Island and many landed near the top of their age groups.
Laine, originally from Washington state, has long-term aspirations to qualify as a professional triathlete.
“There’s a big difference between a qualifying pro and actually being able to make money,” Laine said. “I would like to compete with those people (making money).”
Laine, who has finished two full Ironmans, may attempt to qualify for Hawaii’s famous Ironman World Championship in 2017.
Lieto, a 15-year triathlon veteran, has helped bring Laine’s racing to another level by adding knowledge, intensity and accountability.
“I enjoy being active so it’s never been an issue to be outside and get a workout,” Laine said by phone Wednesday from the Big Island before heading out for a four-hour bike ride. “The intensity level is not there when it’s up to me. You need the higher-intensive work added in or you’re not going to get faster.”
Laine has a busy season of racing planned.
First, she’ll return to Anchorage May 15 to defend her Gold Nugget title. Then she’ll focus on a half Ironman and Olympic-distance race, both in Oregon, before traveling Down Under for the Half Ironman World Championships Sept. 4 in Australia.
– By Matias Saari, ASHOF Blog contributor
The top Alaskans at Lavaman:
Overall female (top 10) — 1. Kinsey Laine, Fairbanks (1), 2:11:03; 8. Rebecca McKee, Anchorage, 2:20:26
Overall male (top 10) — 5. Marcus Farris Fairbanks, 2:03:26; 8. Corbyn Jahn, Anchorage, 2:04:47
Female (top 3 in age group)
19 & under — 1. Katie Seybert, Anchorage, 2:53:22
25-29 — 1. Laine
40-44 — 1. McKee; 2. Larrell Lockard, Anchorage, 2:25:38
50-54 — 3. Lisa Keller, Anchorage, 2:27:28
60-64 — 2. Ellyn Brown, Anchorage, 2:55:00
65-69 — 2. Harriet Paule, Anchorage, 3:15:26
Male (top 3 in age group)
25-29 — 2. Farris; 3. Jahn
35-39 — 2. Jason Lamoreaux, Anchorage, 2:09:26
60-64 — 1. John Ferguson, Anchorage, 2:33:15