The 2026 Cal Tri Austin race has come and gone, and the energy this year was unlike anything we've seen at this event before. Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park was buzzing from the moment athletes arrived, with spectators lining the course, cowbells ringing, and the kind of collective excitement that only builds when a community shows up in force.
This was the largest Cal Tri Austin to date, with over 500 athletes taking on the challenge across multiple distances and formats, including Olympic, Sprint, and Youth distances spanning Triathlon, RunBikeRun, SwimBike, SwimRun, and standalone swim and run events.
Race Day Conditions
Mother Nature brought her A-game. Skies were clear and sunny all morning, with temperatures sitting comfortably in the 60s at race start. Water temperature at Walter E. Long Lake came in at 68°F — warm enough to feel welcoming, but still crisp enough to keep the legs lively.
Course Highlights
Athletes waded into the lake for a beach walk-in start. The bike course is a clockwise loop tracing the perimeter of Walter E. Long Lake — 11.5 miles of rolling terrain with 670 feet of climbing per lap. Sprint athletes took one loop; Olympic athletes tackled two. The run brought athletes back into the park for an out-and-back course with a mid-run climb that hits hard after the bike.
By the Numbers
- 38% female / 62.6% male / 0.4% non-binary
- 43% first-time racers
- Youngest athlete: 8 years old
- Oldest athlete: 78 years old
Top Finishers
Olympic Triathlon — Female
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Maggie Rakowsky | 2:46:39 |
| 🥈 2nd | Alanna Garza | 2:47:50 |
| 🥉 3rd | Claudia Durran | 2:48:59 |
Olympic Triathlon — Male
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Peter Thorpe | 2:07:15 |
| 🥈 2nd | James Anderson | 2:07:50 |
| 🥉 3rd | Matthew McCurdy | 2:10:00 |
Sprint Triathlon — Female
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Natalie Jais | 1:10:51 |
| 🥈 2nd | Zoë Herman | 1:12:13 |
| 🥉 3rd | Shane Allua | 1:14:58 |
Sprint Triathlon — Male
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Liam Knight | 1:00:42 |
| 🥈 2nd | Lewis Tsai | 1:03:31 |
| 🥉 3rd | Josh Chrisman | 1:03:39 |