Triathlon

A Brea man died after a firefighter rescued him from the water during Sunday's triathlon in Newport Beach, authorities said. Roger Stewart, 51, died at Hoag Hospital at 8:38 a.m. after a Newport Beach lifeguard on a paddleboard spotted him showing distress signs in the water during the Kring & Chung Triathlon, according to Newport Beach Fire Department Capt. Todd Knipp and the Orange County coroner's office. Stewart was among others swimming in the race about 8 a.m. in the cove area of Newport Dunes, but "in a matter of moments this gentleman was facedown in the water," Knipp said.

Before John Stout was born, his father envisioned a future full of promise and inspiration. And just as the definition of stout states, John exemplifies endurance. He did so while competing in volleyball for Newport Harbor High before graduating in 1998. He does so now as a triathlete. The 27-year-old completed his first Ironman in 12 hours, 45 minutes, eight seconds in Nice, France, on June 24 while his father Jim observed, despite battling pneumonia. "It was very inspiring," Jim Stout, who lives in Costa Mesa, said.

Water is a symbol for cleansing, for renewal. In Hayley Peirsol’s life, she knows this much is true. Somehow, even after a burnout from swimming, water remains prevalent for Peirsol. She has a new dream that involves the 2012 Olympics in London. In the literal sense, it’s not just about getting wet for the Newport Harbor High product. Distance running, cycling, pushing her body to the limit also factor in now, as Peirsol competes in triathlon. This is her life now, to be the ultimate athlete.

The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday denied the special event permit for the Newport Beach Triathlon over objections from the race organizers and other supporters. The council voted, 6-1, with Councilman Dick Nichols dissenting. "The [city] staff feels the event as operated in the last two years is inconvenient beyond reasonableness," City Manager Homer Bludau said. But Robert Mortensen of Newport Beach said the city wasn't considering what the race means to people.

About 40 women rose to the challenge of a triathlon on Sunday to raise money for the Newport Aquatic Center's junior paddling team. The women performed a 4.3-mile run/walk, rappelled down the side of Pirate's Cove, then kayaked back 2 1/2 miles through the Newport Aquatic Center, raising close to $3,000 in the process. The women were a diverse group of ages and athletic abilities -- some had never even been in a boat before. The funds will go toward getting the team and its boats to a national competition in Georgia at the end of July, said co-organizer Susan Hogue of Costa Mesa.

JACKSON WINS TI2Y James Jackson didn't expect much when he went to compete in the waters of the San Francisco Bay. This was his outlet of sorts because he had conceded that trying to match the level of NCAA Division I swimming or water polo was impossible. But that never stopped him from maintaining his passion. Jackson, who graduated from Newport Harbor High last spring, won the Treasure Island to YMCA race on Saturday. The TI2Y is a 1.5-mile, open-water swim from Treasure Island to the Embarcadero.

Deirdre Newman COSTA MESA -- Students exercised their freedom to work out on Friday at St. Joachim School in Costa Mesa. A schoolwide field day event paid tribute to "America, Land of the Free," and raised money for the PTA. Money raised will be used to supplement the school's budget for new textbooks, Principal Rachel Martinez said. The triathlon enabled the students to have fun while honing their athletic skills. "It kind of carries over to what I teach in physical education -- overall, strength, agility and fitness," said Mike Davis, who was decked out in marine fatigues for the occasion.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON "The best way out is always through." -- Robert Frost I do not like admitting my mistakes, failings or fears. But God recently used an interesting experience in my life that showed me there are times when it helps to share struggles with others. In fact, I not only learned that I wasn't alone in a particular fear; but by sharing it, I received help and encouragement and ultimate victory. One of my favorite sports is swimming.

Parts of Coast Highway will be closed in Newport Beach on Sunday for the 16th Annual Kiwanis Pacific Coast Triathlon. Southbound lanes of the highway near Crystal Cove State Park's Reef Point parking lot will be shut down, according to a news release from the Newport Beach Police Department. Vehicles headed north and south will use northbound lanes, which could affect traffic from as early as 5 a.m. to as late as 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Also, pedestrians will not be allowed to cross Coast Highway in the affected area.

Instead of attending her senior prom, Newport Harbor High senior Kelsey Christensen competed in the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii triathlon on June 1. Christensen, an 18-year-old and 2013 top-15 graduate at Newport Harbor, was the youngest female participant in the highly competitive field of 1,941 professional and age-group athletes who raced a 1.2-mile open ocean swim, followed by a 56-mile bike through black lava fields and green pastures and finishing with...

A Brea man died after a firefighter rescued him from the water during Sunday's triathlon in Newport Beach, authorities said. Roger Stewart, 51, died at Hoag Hospital at 8:38 a.m. after a Newport Beach lifeguard on a paddleboard spotted him showing distress signs in the water during the Kring & Chung Triathlon, according to Newport Beach Fire Department Capt. Todd Knipp and the Orange County coroner's office. Stewart was among others swimming in the race about 8 a.m. in the cove area of Newport Dunes, but "in a matter of moments this gentleman was facedown in the water," Knipp said.

The 15th annual Pacific Coast Triathlon is planned for Crystal Cove State Park on Sunday morning. Drivers can expect a portion of the southbound lanes on East Coast Highway to be closed from early in the morning until about 11 a.m. Organizers didn't provide a specific start time. Race organizers also take over the Reef Point parking lot to stage the event. Pedestrians will not be able to cross Coast Highway to get into the coastal areas of the park except at the Los Trancos tunnel, until the road reopens.

Racers in the Pacific Coast Triathlon are set to swim, bike and run in Crystal Cove State Park on Sunday morning. Between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. race officials expect to close southbound lanes of East Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. But car traffic will be able to flow in both directions — just at lower speeds and in the typically northbound-only lanes. The Beachcomber Café will still be open for breakfast. — Mike Reicher Twitter: @mreicher

Newport Beach residents Mike and Tina Catlin began their day on Saturday with a chilly dip in the 55-degree waters off Corona del Mar State Beach. This was no leisurely Valentine’s Day morning at the beach — the couple are training for the Lavaman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, in March. “Our kids probably think we’ve gone crazy,” Tina Catlin said. “It’s a way we can go through our mid-life crisis together.” The Lavaman Triathlon begins with a 1,500-meter swim in the Pacific Ocean, then continues with a 40-kilometer bike ride on the big island of Hawaii.

Michele Landry, a Newport Beach resident, finished the Ford Ironman World Championship race in 12 hours, 34 minutes, 34 seconds Oct. 11 in Kona, Hawaii. Landry, 35, finished 1,234th out of 1,736. She was one of 150 U.S. triathletes selected from a lottery to compete in the prestigious Ford Ironman World Championship, which is like the Super Bowl for triathletes. The race consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike leg and a 26.2-mile marathon. It was Landry’s fourth Ironman race.

Through Michele Landry’s eyes, Hawaii is much more than a cool place for a vacation. Hawaii, specifically Kona, has always been special for Landry, a Newport Beach resident. On Oct. 11, it will actually become even more cherished. Landry, one of 150 U.S. triathletes selected from a lottery, will compete in the Ford Ironman World Championship. The event is like the Super Bowl for triathletes. If the competitors had a resume for the top races they’ve finished, the Ironman World Championship would be at the top of the list.

Water is a symbol for cleansing, for renewal. In Hayley Peirsol’s life, she knows this much is true. Somehow, even after a burnout from swimming, water remains prevalent for Peirsol. She has a new dream that involves the 2012 Olympics in London. In the literal sense, it’s not just about getting wet for the Newport Harbor High product. Distance running, cycling, pushing her body to the limit also factor in now, as Peirsol competes in triathlon. This is her life now, to be the ultimate athlete.

Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to grant a special waiver that will allow the Pacific Coast Triathlon to happen in July 2009, despite a policy that doesn’t allow such events between Memorial Day and Labor Day for fear of excessive traffic congestion — but just this once. The event is intended by the USA Triathlon organization to be a national qualifying event for triathletes attempting to compete at the world championships in Australia later in 2009.