Bermuda?s junior and senior triathletes recorded no less than six first-place finishes in age group events over two days of racing in the world?s largest triathlon in Chicago last weekend.

TriHedz junior club members together with parents and other local triathletes travelled to the McDonald?s Kids Triathlon and the Accenture Chicago Triathlon where the total entry was estimated at over 10,000.

The youngest Island competitor, Elizabeth Jordan, took top honours in the girls? seven to eight age group and her success was followed with a first place finish in the girls? nine to 10 age group by Annabella Doyle.

Bermuda?s Molly Pilgrim finished less than a minute behind Doyle in sixth place.

The Island?s senior triathletes also excelled with Carolyn Conway, Coyatito Smith, Neil de St Croix and Mark Peeters all winning their age groups in the sprint distance triathlon.

Also competing were Russell Burgess and Steve Conway and son Spencer.

Racing in the women?s elite category Olympic distance event, Karen Smith finished in a time of 2:20:28, which was just outside the qualifying time for next year?s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. She?ll make a further attempt to qualify at the World Championships in Hawaii in a few weeks? time.

Also racing with the elite men was Jamie Brown who finished second in his age group in a time of 2:09:35.

Among the juniors, Michael Armstrong, 12, and Theo Peeters, 10, fared well against huge fields in their age groups to finish seventh and 14th respectively.

Top finisher among the older boys was 13-year-old Michael Coles who placed tenth in the competitive 13 to 14 age group. Coles was followed closely by Reid Henderson in 11th and Brendon Doyle in 12th.

Bermuda?s Kim McMullen completed the Ironman Canada over the weekend, placing a creditable 263rd in a field of more than 1700 competitors.

The race, in Penticton, British Columbia, required athletes to swim 3.8 kilometres, cycle 180 kilometres and then complete a full marathon (42.2 kilometres).

McMillan placed seventh out 146 entrants in the 35-39 age group, thereby qualifying to compete in the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii in mid October.