The Powell Aquatic Center hosted its fifth annual Triathlon race Saturday morning, with 57 people taking part under clear skies and cool conditions.

“The weather cooperated this year,” race director Tanya Bonner said. “There was a noticeable difference in bike times compared to last year when we had a nasty wind.

“The sign-ups were considerably more than in past years,” she added. “Last year we had six teams and 24 soloists, this year saw 11 teams and 33 soloists, though there were a few, last-minute dropouts due to sickness.”

Those who were able to answer the call began the race by swimming 20 lengths, totaling 500 yards, in the Powell Aquatic Center’s pool, before racing into the cool air to make the transition to the bicycle stage.

From there, riders pedaled along East Seventh Street, went north on Road 8, west again on Lane 8 and turned north onto Elk Basin Highway before reaching the turnaround and making their way back — totaling 15.5 miles.

Upon returning back to the transition station, the bikes were abondoned and the final leg of the race began, a 5K run down West Seventh Street to Grand Street and back.

Racers ranged in age from 11 years old to more than 60, showing the triathlon appeal spreads across all age groups.

“We enjoy seeing varying ages compete,” Bonner said. “I like to see people challenge themselves. We had someone in their first triathlon and she said she can’t wait to do it again. Another woman knocked 6 minutes off her time from last year, and we had an 11-year-old boy complete the whole course, proving anyone can do anything.”

The range of ages was impressive, as was the list of locations from which participants came to join in.

“We saw people from Billings, Casper, Lander and Worland,” Bonner said. “We had some from South Dakota, Red Lodge and Cody, with Powell represented well, of course, as well.”

And it was a local competitor who came away with the best time for the men, overall, with Ladell Merritt crossing the finish line in 1:08.29, while Amanda Hunter, from Billings, paced the women with the best time of the day, 1:07.24.

The best team finish came in the co-ed division from Thomas and Alex Etter with a 1:19.44 mark.

“I gave out more medals this year by narrowing the age groups down,” Bonner said. “Everybody likes to be rewarded for their effort and so they should be.”