By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Goessel High School graduates Donna Spoonemore of Hillsboro and Kevin Nickel of rural Newton had good showings in two Kansas triathlons — Lake Afton near Wichita on July 10 and Aug. 1 at Derby.

Spoonemore finished first in her age group with a total time of 1 hour 22 minutes 48 seconds, placing seventh overall. There were 78 competitors in the women’s division. Athletes began the race with a 400-meter pool swim, rode 14 miles on bicycles, and completed the race with a 3.1-mile run.

At Lake Afton, Spoonemore finished second in her age group in a 21.7-mile duathon, where athletes ran 3.1 miles, biked 15.5 miles, and repeated the 3.1-mile run.

Nickel finished first in Derby out of 131 male entries. He was the only athlete to finish in less than one hour, 58:11. Nickel also won at Lake Afton, El Dorado, and Emporia events. He was the highest-ranking Kansan to finish the 70.3-mile triathlon this spring in Lawrence.

As Nickel prepares for the Salty Dog Triathlon Saturday in Hutchinson, he anticipates entering as the highest-ranked Kansan in the event.