Dustyn Schrock, left, and David Hernandez sprint to the finish of the 2014 Warsaw Optimist Triathlon. (File photo by Nick Goralczyk)

WINONA LAKE – The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club is again sponsoring the Warsaw Triathlon, entering its 22nd year, with an 8 a.m. start time Saturday, June 27, at Winona Lake Park.

The event is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and is part of the Mideast Triathlon Club Race series. Mideast Club members will be able to earn points for their club at the Optimist Triathlon.

USAT age division assignments will be determined by age as of Dec. 31 of the event year, not by age on race day. Minimum age for entry is 15 before Dec. 31, 2014. This applies to a solo triathlete or as a member of a team. Age divisions start at 15 years old and go as high as 85-plus.

There is a youth race, which will have two age brackets in 11-12 and 13-14 year old group, where participants much perform individually. The youth triathlon is for experience only, and prizes will be awarded as such. The courses will be reduced for the youth divisions.

The adult course will have swimmers start on the banks of Winona Lake and swim an eighth of a mile to a marker and back to shore. Biking is 13.8 miles and includes a few hills on the journey to Pierceton and back. Bike helmets are required and must by ANSI approved. The run is 3.7 miles with a couple of hills along the Greenway Trail.

New to the event this year is a kayak, bike and run option. Rather than working the quarter-mile swim, participants can kayak the quarter mile, return the kayak to the shoreline, and continue with the race. The kayaking will be held on a separate portion of the lake away from the sprint swimmers, and only a limited number of contestants can sign up to kayak.

The 2014 triathlon winners were Matt York for the men at 1:07:07 and Amy Kuitse for the women at 1:14.39.

Registration must be done before the day of the race and up to 720 participants can sign up. Information can be found from the Warsaw Breakfast Optimists, notably race coordinator Ron Donkers, who can be reached at [email protected]. Race information, which includes rules and USAT bylaws, can be found online at warsawoptimist.org.