Two-Second Triathlon Thriller
Owen Sound Triathlon: Steve Leckie Wins by Two Seconds, Edging Out Veteran Steve Good
Steve Leckie won the Owen Sound triathlon — but only by two seconds. His closest rival, Steve Good, is two decades older than him, making the near-miss all the more dramatic, according to Owen Sound Sun Times.
The race used a staggered start, with younger athletes going first. That meant Leckie had to wait at the finish line for about four minutes before Good crossed it. Then came an anxious four-hour wait while officials calculated the adjusted times, according to Shoreline Beacon.
Staggered Start Made the Gap Hard to See
In a staggered-start race, younger athletes leave before older ones. Officials later adjust each person's time to account for this. So even though Leckie crossed the finish line well before Good, the real margin only became clear hours later, according to Goderich Signal Star.
Leckie watched Good finish and had no idea who had won. He had to wait four hours for the final answer. Race director Greg Nicol announced the result: Good was about two seconds behind Leckie's adjusted time, as reported by Seaforth Huron Expositor.
Eight Events Made Up the Full Race Day
The Owen Sound event was part of the Subaru Triathlon Series. It featured eight competitions in total. Those included the Olympic Triathlon, Olympic Swim/Bike, Sprint Triathlon, Spring Duathlon, and Olympic Duathlon, according to Mitchell Advocate.
The Olympic Triathlon is the longest and most demanding format. It typically includes a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride, and a 10-kilometre run. Competing well in it — especially against someone two decades younger — makes Good's result stand out.
Both Steves Are Eyeing a Spot on Team Canada
The stakes went beyond bragging rights. Both Leckie and Good are hoping to qualify for Team Canada at next year's world championships, according to Clinton News Record. Their finish times in races like this one play a role in that selection process.
A two-second gap between two athletes — one in his prime and one two decades older — chasing the same national team spot is a rare story. For Good especially, the result shows he can still compete at a very high level.
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