Hayden’s sprint triathlon drew approximately 400 competitors to Honeysuckle Beach on Saturday under sunny, windy conditions, marking a record turnout for the North Idaho event. The course tested athletes with a 750-meter swim in Hayden Lake, a 13.5-mile bike ride on mostly flat terrain, and a 3.1-mile run around Hayden Lake Golf Club.
Zach Erikson of Orem, Utah claimed the overall title with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 14 seconds. Erikson kept his focus during the water segment, saying he “just tried not to drown in the swim.” In the women’s division, Chauntae Peterson of Hayden finished first with a time of 1:18:01, extending her string of strong performances in regional triathlons this season.
Local Athletes Earn Podium Finishes
Peterson, a 40-year-old Coeur d’Alene native, won the women’s race through aggressive racing strategy. “If I want to win, I have to go fast, and I have to pass the person in front of me,” Peterson said of her approach. Her victory at Hayden follows her first-place finish in the women’s field at June’s Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene, cementing her status among the region’s top endurance athletes.
Several other Kootenai County residents posted strong showings. Arne Michalson of Coeur d’Alene finished 17th overall and first in his age group with a time of 1:19:54. The 62-year-old’s participation marked his first race since 2022, a comeback he undertook partly at the urging of his daughter, Renee Childress, who also competed and finished 1:50:30 (8th in her age group).
Taylon Lund, a recent Lake City High School graduate from Coeur d’Alene, claimed fourth place among female finishers and won her age group in 1:23:49. Landon Rice of Harrison rounded out the notable local finishes, crossing the line in 1:21:04 to place 19th overall and third in the 25-29 age group.
Community Ties and Ironman Preparation
Ben Tran of Coeur d’Alene finished in 1:41:35 and represents a deep connection to the event itself. Tran has competed in nearly every Hayden triathlon and helped organize the race during its early years. He is currently training for an Ironman competition in Kona scheduled for October.
Matt Creighton of Post Falls completed his first sprint triathlon, finishing in 1:27:58—just shy of his goal time of 1:30. His participation reflects the event’s appeal to both seasoned endurance athletes and those new to the sport.
The Hayden triathlon continues to serve as a marquee event for North Idaho’s athletic community, drawing competitors from across the region and beyond while showcasing the talents of local racers. The record field suggests growing interest in sprint-distance triathlon competition in Kootenai County and the surrounding Panhandle.
What Comes Next
Athletes like Tran and Peterson are using Hayden as a training benchmark on the road to larger events. For newcomers like Creighton, the triathlon offers an accessible entry point to multisport racing. The event’s success this year positions it as a potential anchor in the regional endurance calendar for years to come. Those interested in similar community athletic events may also want to follow local youth sports competitions like the Little League 10U Tournament and community celebrations such as the Post Falls Day Parade, which draw area residents together throughout the year.