Lee wins amateur division of Canada Ironman

Kendra Lee, a 1999 graduate of Jamestown High School, placed first in the women’s amateur division of Ironman Canada Aug. 26 in Penticton, Canada.

Lee’s personal-best time of nine hours, 44 minutes and 58 seconds placed her ahead of all the professional Ironman competitors in the race.

The Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike race and 26.2 mile marathon.

Lee’s time was a personal best. By not being a professional Ironman competitor, she could not collect the $5,000 in prize money.

“I was really excited to set that record for my own personal self,” Lee said. “So to do what I did on top of it all was great, but not expected at all.”

Her previous best time was 10:06 set at the 2011 World Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii. She’s also participated in marathons in Cozumel, Mexico, Louisville, Ky., and Couer d’Alene, Idaho, where she qualified for the World Championship in Hawaii twice.

Lee also competes in the 70.3-mile half marathon and has placed in the event in Kansas, California, Colorado and Las Vegas.

Lee, who lettered in soccer track and field and basketball during her high school career as a Blue Jay, lives in Denver and works as an RN.

— Dave Selvig

Tags: sports, amateur, trathalon