By Glen Miller

On less than 24 hours rest, El Reno native Ryan Ellis was one of six top contenders to race in the 10^th anniversary of the Route 66 Triathlon – a day after racing in the event’s little sister.

Ellis, who placed fourth in the shorter Route 66 Sprint Triathlon, took to the longer distance to gain yet another top 10 finish. The 35-year-old placed seventh overall in a highly contested race in which the top 10 were separated by less than 16 minutes.

A veteran of the El Reno race, Ellis crossed the finish line with an overall time of 2 hours, 16 minutes and 46 seconds. He completed the 1,500-meter swim in Lake El Reno in 29:13, before posting a time of 1:05:40 for the 25-mile bike ride down the Mother Road.

Ellis had the fifth fastest time in the run portion, completing the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) course in 40 minutes and 53 seconds. He was second in his age group to Harrah’s Travis Newton (2:09:15), who placed fourth overall.

The top nine placers in the men’s division were all from Oklahoma. As expected, Cache’s Scott Anderson was the overall winner with a time of 2:04:25.

Anderson was the third out of the water with a time of 24:24 and trailed Oklahoma City’s Eric McCrary and David Hildenbrand. However, Anderson took the lead on the bike course with a time of 59 minutes and 28 seconds – besting McCrary and Hildenbrand by over four minutes.

Anderson posted the second fastest time on the run at 39:17 as McCrary closed the gap with a 37:23 10K run to take second overall at 2:05:26.

Reid Foster of Oklahoma City, with an impressive 58:38 bike, slipped into third overall with a time of 2:07:15. Newton, Hildenbrand (2:12:45), Leo Hansen of Oklahoma City (2:14:09) and Ellis rounded out the top seven.

Rian Smoak of Edmond, who trains with Ellis, was eighth with a time of 2:18:30. Yukon’s Jesse Martin (2:19:02) and Jimmy Adams of Wichita, Kan., (2:20:58) rounded out the top 10.

There were 99 competitors in the men’s field. Several locals completed the race including Union City’s Donald Hubbard (3:30:16/92^nd).

Mustang had several entries including Harold Tinga (2:52:20/59^th) and Art Schofield (3:03:20/72^nd).

Norman woman grabs gold

Sporting the fastest time on the 10K run course, Katrina Menard took the overall gold by just over four minutes.

The 32-year-old trailed going into the run but posted a time of 40:54 to pass Edmond’s Laura Beth Meyer, who led by little more than a minute after the bike stage.

Meyer was second overall at 2:24:38, holding off Tulsa’s Jane Ziegler (2:25:04). Four of the remaining top 10 placers came from out of state including Chrissy Usher (2:26:33) of Wichita, Kan., in fourth and Texan Jessica Sutterfield (2:31:36) in fifth.

Sutterfield won the women’s overall title in the sprint.

Oklahoma City television personality Emily Sutton also ran both events, taking 15^th in the Olympic distances with a time of 3:03:06.