It takes stamina, determination and just plain hard work to compete in a triathlon.
And Saratoga's James Cochrane had all of that and then some when he took part in the San Jose International Triathlon at Lake Almaden.
Cochrane finished the grueling event in two hours, 26 minutes and 42 seconds to finish second in the men's 60-64 age group at the rugged event.
How grueling is a triathlon? There is not other sports event like it. Competitors begin their competition with a 1-kilometer swim and climb out of the water for a 40-kilometer bicycle ride. They will then hop off of their bikes and take off on a 10-kilometer run.
Cochrane managed to complete all three legs of the triathlon with a strong enough time to place in his age group.
Other top local male age group finishers included: 16-19 division--Adlar Su of San Jose, first in 2:03:24, and Jamiel Danesh of San Jose, second in 2:09:44; 35-39--Kenny Leader of San Jose, third in 1:57:18; 40-44--Bill Shawhan of Los Gatos, first in 1:58:27, and Patrick Bitter of Los Gatos, second in 2:00:16; 40-49--Tim Lavelle of San Jose, second in 2:06:07; 50-54--Walter Radloff of San Jose, second in 2:06.57; 55-59--Roger Samuelson of Cupertino, first in 2:15:18, and John School of San Jose, third in 2:17:57; 60-64--Richard Alexander of San Jose, first in 2:16:09; 65-69--Ken Nash of San Jose, first in 2:26:39.
In women's competition, top local finishers included: 20-24 division--Helena Kvapil of San Jose, first in 2:14:02, and Rachel McMurtry of San Jose, third in 2:19:07; 35-39--Marty Scott of Los Gatos, third in 2:12:36; 40-44--Lisa Yonaka of Los Gatos, second in 2:16:31, and Shelley Sumner of San Jose, third in 2:18:29; 50-54-- ynne Rosser of Los Gatos, second in 2:42:44.
Among the local placers in the elite class [all the same events except they have a 1.5-kilometer swim] were Marcel Vifian of San Jose, second in 1:59:23; Thomas Carney of San Jose, 12th in 2:07:37; and Derek Daley of Los Gatos, 17th in 2:15:32.
Vifian finished more than three minutes behind San Jose Triathlon champion Greg Thompson of Santa Clara, who covered the distance in 1:55:58.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, June 12, 1996.
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