Ottawa's Stephen Chapman and Duluth's Tiffany Kari Cizmas secured major victories at the Xterra Sleeping Giant triatthlon in Thunder Bay this past Sunday. the event featured various off-road disciplines, including mountain biking and trail running, across the region's challenging terrain.

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Stephen Chapman overcomes a cycling error to beat Matt Agar by four minutes

Stephen Chapman of Ottawa secured the men's Xterra Sleeping Giant triathlon title in Thunder Bay on Sunday, finishing with a time of 2:31:17.1. According to the report, Chapman's victory was defined by a strong recovery after a navigational error on the 26-kilometre mountain bike section, where he briefly took a wrong turn and passed the same competitor twice . Despite the error, Chapman's performance allowed him to finish more than four minutes ahead of Matt Agar of Thunder Bay, who took second place.

Chapman's strategy focused on energy conservation during the 1,500-metre swim at Boulevard Lake, a discipline in which he feels less confident. He utilized his strength in mountain biking to move from third place in the water to second on the bike, eventually taking full control of the race during the final 10-kilometre trail run at Trowbridge Falls. Chapman noted that he was not entirely certain of his victory even as he crossed the finish line.

Tiffany Kari Cizmas defends her elite title with a 19-minute lead

Tiffany Kari Cizmas of Duluth claimed the women's pro and elite title for the second consecutive year, finishing in 2:49:40.1. As the report notes, Kari Cizmas was the sole competitor entered in that specific category, finishing nearly 19 minutes ahead of Calgary's Sheri Foster. Despite the lack of direct competition in her division, her performance was objectively elite, marking the third-fastest time among the 61 athletes who completed the full triathlon.

Kari Cizmas established her dominance during the biking portion of the race and carefully managed her effort to ensure she had sufficient energy for the run.. While she praised the scenic setting of the course,she cautioned that a victory is never guaranteed because race conditions and the field of competitors can change from year to year.

The wide-ranging results across Thunder Bay's duathlons and trail runs

The Xterra Sleeping Giant event serves as a cornerstone for off-road endurance sports in the region, offering a diverse range of disciplines beyond the headline triathlon. The Sunday program included several other successful performances, such as Nolan Nicholas winning the men's full-distance duathlon in 3:09:01.6 and Beth Ponka claiming the women's title in 2:21:35.9. This variety of races reflects a broader trend of multi-discipline athletic programming in Northern Ontario.

Other notable winners from the day's events included:

  • Mason Shyiak: Men's half marathon (1:55:38.7)
  • Jeesica Northan: Women's half marathon (2:23:53.8)
  • Lindsay Wowchuck: Women's 10-kilometre trail run (54:09.4)
  • Caio Miliante: Men's 10-kilometre trail run (1:11:08.8)
  • Noah Fillion: Men's 5-kilometre trail run (28:32.7)
  • Emily McGarrin: Women's 5-kilometre trail run (33:03.7)

    • The mystery of the single-competitor women's pro field

    While the event saw significant participation across various categories, certain aspects of the professional competition remain unclear. The source indicates that Kari Cizmas was the only athlete entered in the women's pro and elite division, leaving it unknown whether this was due to a lack of local professional interest or specific registration hurdles. Additionally, while the report details individual times,it does not specify how much the local course conditions at Trowbridge Falls or Boulevard Lake varied from previous years, which Kari Cizmas noted can significantly impact race results.