Viewfinder: At Beaver Lake Triathlon - Splashing, Exertion, Triumph

Many wore special swimming suits as they braved the quarter-mile distance under the morning sun on Saturday in Beaver Lake.

After that, triathletes took to their sleek bicycles, as their legs spun to reach a peak cadence for the 13.8-mile ride. Then, in the end, their shoes hit the trail and pavement, as they finished with a 4.3-mile run.

Hundreds of triathletes from throughout Sammamish and the Seattle area converged on Beaver Lake Park to participate in the 18th annual event. Registration for this year's event reached 335 athletes with 262 people completing the event, Sharon Freechtle, race director of the Beaver Lake Triathlon Association, said.

"It's the only triathlon on the Plateau," she said. "People love this triathlon. Some people do this one every year."

Matt Signoretty, 21, was one out of two men from Sammamish to finish in the "Top 10 Overall Males - Singles" category. He finished with an overall time of 1:16:08, according to results posted on association's website. Sammamish resident Jonathan Church, 35, was the other man and recorded a total time of 1:16:21.

Haley Morin, 33, was the top finisher for women from Sammamish in the "Overall Females - Singles" category, clocking a cumulative time of 1:27:21.

The top man from Sammamish in the "Overall Males - Masters" category was Ryan Mongan, 45, with a total time of 1:17:23. In the "Overall Females - Masters" category, Tammy Wales was first out of all Sammamish women in that group. She clocked an overall time of 1:30:50. 

For the "Three Amigos," a relay team made up of Sammamish residents Steve Holton, Jason Renfroe and John Wall, the event was a mixture of training, staying in shape and just enjoying a local event with friends.

During Saturday's race, Holton was the bicyclist, Renfroe was the swimmer and Wall was the runner.

The three friends attend and competed as a relay team at a triathlon in Lake Stevens about a week ago.

On Thursday before the Beaver Lake Triathlon, Holton called his friends and asked if they wanted to compete, giving them only days to prepare, Wall said.

"I like the feel of it. It's community. It's a small community. There are still some serious athletes but it's really a fun thing for the area," Wall, 57, said, minutes after he crossed the finish line for runners.

Holton, 55, has ample experience as a bicyclist and remarked on pedaling in the Beaver Lake area. "The course is really fun, downhill the first half and the second half is almost all uphill," he said.

"It's what they call a 'roller.' You go up, down, up down, gradually gaining quite a bit of elevation and pretty flat into the finish." 

For Renfroe, the swim helped him prepare for his participation in Ironman Canada, which will be held on Aug. 28. 

The 41-year-old swims in Beaver Lake three to four times a week and reflected on the point when he realizes his training has paid off.

"I think when you're turning over and you constantly don't have to gasp for air. You're kind of comfortable. You keep going," he said. "And the next thing you know, you realize, 'Wow. I've reached the destination.'"