Pacific Coast Triathlon is good family fun

For Newport Coast resident John Bruder it was a good day to run.

He might only be 6 years old, but he should know — he’s veteran runner. With encouragement from mom and dad he’s competed in several 5K races, but on Sunday they didn’t just cheer him on. They were his teammates.

At the Pacific Coast Triathlon held Sunday on the shores of Crystal Cove State Park, the Bruders took on the ocean, roads and trails as a family.

John’s mother, Ingrid Bruder, rode the bicycle portion of the race and John’s father, Al Brude, swam.

Mom accompanied John on his run, just to make sure everything went smoothly.

“I didn’t stop the whole time,” John proudly said.

Back for the ninth year, the triathlon brought the fit and fierce and fun-loving out to the beautiful beaches of the Newport coast for nearly 15 miles of swimming, biking and running.

The race began at 7:45 a.m. with a half-mile swim in 68.2-degree water, then a 12-mile bike up and down a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar and continued with a 3-mile run along the trails of Crystal Cove.

Michael Won of Buena Park returned this year in hopes of improving his time from his first race. He did just that.

“I actually felt like it was harder this year, but I had a better time,” Won said.

For Won, who finished with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes and 47 seconds, the atmosphere of the race also drew him back for another opportunity to push his body to the limit.

“It’s a good combination of competition and fun,” he said.

For the second year, race organizer Bill Leach held a firefighters’ commemoration ceremony with presentations by Mayor Don Webb and City Council members Leslie Daigle and Steve Rosansky.

Firefighters from all over the state and country, including New York, San Bernardino, Anaheim and Newport Beach attended and participated.

A moment of silence was observed for the firefighters who died Sept. 11, 2001.

Darryl Meekhof, one of those honored, participated in the race with around eight of his fellow Anaheim firefighters.

“It was fun,” he said. “A lot of work, but it gives you something to work for.”

Meekhof finished with a time of about 1 hour and 44 minutes.

In the men’s division, first, second and third place were taken by Kyle Hughes of Lake Forest, Todd Menzel of Newport Beach and Tate Benhing of Boulder, Colorado, respectively.

Race champ Hughes suffered some stomach pain on one of the last hills, but Menzel waited for Hughes, pep-talking him back into the race, Hughes said.

“Todd was racing well the whole time,” Hughes said.

“Todd waited for him, and then on down the hill Hughes overtook him,” event announcer Brent Weber said.

Hughes finished at 1 hour and 48 seconds.

For the women, first place went to Sian Welch of Encinitas with a time of 1 hour, eight minutes and 5 seconds.

In the children’s division, brothers Roman and Giancarlo Spinosi took second and third place, just narrowly defeated by triathlon first-timer Nate Zeile of Westlake Village, who had been in training since July for the event.

“It was really fun,” Nate said.

“We were really happy with it,” race director Bill Leach said. “We had concerns with the parking since we could no longer use the Promenade.”

Otherwise, the event was an overall success for Leach. Forging friendships with the New York firefighters and the presence of the mayor and council members were unexpected surprises for the Corona del Mar coach.

“I don’t think we could have asked for too much more,” he said. “Todd and Kyle put in a great show.

“It was a good race for the two of them.”