Legendary race returns to Newport

The longest running triathlon in the United States returns to Newport

Beach Sunday as more than 1,000 athletes from around the world

converge on the Newport Dunes for the 26th annual Kring & Chung

Newport Beach Triathlon.

The race begins at 6:45 a.m. and consists of a half-mile swim in

the Back Bay, a 13-mile bicycle ride through Newport Beach and Irvine

and a three-mile run.

Proceeds of the event will benefit the UC Irvine women’s water

polo and rowing programs.

The triathlon began in 1978, after a group of six UCI students

with water polo backgrounds decided to develop a competition for

employees from local restaurants such as The Chart House, Rusty

Pelican and Avila’s El Ranchito. The first race drew about 400

participants.

Santa Monica resident Marc Lees, 29, finished the last year’s race

in 55 minutes, 15 seconds while Michellie Jones, a silver medalist in

the triathlon in the 2000 Summer Olympics, crossed the finish line

first in 1:01. Lees and Jones earned the fastest times in the men’s

and women’s divisions.

For more information or to register as a participant, contact

Pacific Sports LLC at (714) 978-1528 or visit

www.pacificsportsllc.com.