For the fifth year in a row, the Whitman swim team organized the Whitman Triathlon, which took place on Saturday, Oct. 4. All proceeds from the triathlon go towards helping the team go to California to train over winter break.

The triathlon, which is not an Olympic distance race, gives students the opportunity to get their feet wet when it comes to competing in a triathlon. The Whitman Triathlon consists of a 500-yard swim, 10-mile bike ride and 5-kilometer run, whereas an Olympic distance triathlon is a 1500-m swim, 40-km bike ride and 10-km run. The fact that the race isn’t as long as some triathlons is something that the swim team feels is a good thing.

“It is the ideal race for people that are considering their first triathlon,” sophomore Lauren Flynn said. “It is something where you are going to feel really accomplished when you finish, especially if it your first one, and for people that are more seasoned racers it is still an excellent place to practice the technicalities of the race.”

Another aspect of the race that the swim team likes is that it brings together both the Whitman and the Walla Walla communities.

“One of the nicest things about the triathlon is that it is a communal event. There are a lot of families that come out and do it and it is a really supportive environment,” senior Ysbrand Nusse said.

Nusse, like Flynn, feels that the triathlon is great for those just getting into the sport.

“For a lot of people it is the first triathlon they have done, so it is a good introduction, it is nice and short and low key,” he said.

The money made from the triathlon all goes toward the training trip in California. In the last week of the month-long winter break, the team goes to the Claremont schools to step up the training just prior to the conference tournament.

“It is a training camp where we swim the most yards we swim all season, 12,000 yards a day,” sophomore Brian Wakefield said. “It is the capstone of training. You are building up all season, then you cap in California and then you start to taper the last month and focus more on technique.”

Nusse also said that the time in California is very beneficial because the members of the team don’t have to worry about school; instead, swimming can be their number one priority. In addition to the training aspect of the trip, Flynn, Nusse and Wakefield said it is also a bonding experience for the team.

A common misconception about the triathlon is that it is organized by the Triathlon Club. This is something that the club would like to get rid of.

“The [purpose of the] Triathlon Club is to help people train for triathlons,” Flynn said. “to help people who have never done them before get into them, and to help people who are triathletes to continue to pursue races.”