It was an early morning for the UCSD Triathlon Team last Sunday. To make the 7 AM start feel even earlier, the clocks had just sprung forward for Daylight Savings Time. Nevertheless, the team was out and warming up for UCLA's IronBruin Triathlon by 5:45, long before sunrise. The race was a backwards triathlon, consisting of a hilly 4 mile run, a winding 9 mile bike, and a 400 meter pool swim. For some on the team, it would be their first triathlon, while for others, it would be one more event to add to a long list of race finishes. For all, it was the first collegiate race of the season.

The gun went off and soon John Burke was up in front with the first 10 guys, with Captain Tom Scherbart not far behind. A little farther back were Amanda Felder, Richard Armenta and Adam Strobl. First timer Blair Ryan was the second UCSD woman after the run with Tammy Wildgoose, Matt Li, and John Holecek not far behind.

On the technical bike segment, Burke was closely followed by Scherbart until in the second lap of three, Burke flatted, and Scherbart found himself alone as the team's leader and within reach of a top ten finish. Felder and Strobl also maintained a close distance on the bike, with Holecek making up ground on Blair and Richard.

After surviving the bike course, the racers ran up a steep hill for the final leg of the race, the 400 meter swim. Scherbart ran and swam strong to earn a top ten finish. Felder put some time on Strobl over the course of the final transition and swim, and was the first woman across the line. Armenta rounded out the top 3 UCSD men, and first-timers Ryan and Wildgoose swam strong to finish within the top 20 women.

All in all, UCSD had a good showing at their first race of the season, boding well for the rest of the West Coast Collegiate Series.