McGinnis uses cross country running, swim experience to capture girls title

~ She plans to swim at Jackson High School this season.

After finishing his swim, Caleb Coots tied his shoes before beginning his bike ride during the youth triathlon at Central Municipal Pool on Saturday. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

Cailin McGinnis would prefer a little more swimming and a little less biking in the Youth Triathlon.

Even still, the Jackson teen repeated as champion of the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department's annual event, picking up her third overall win in the four years that she has competed in the event.

"I used to run cross country, so the running is not too bad," McGinnis said. "Biking is my worst part. I don't like biking."

And the swimming? That comes easy.

McGinnis, 16, is a natural in the pool, having competed as a member of the South East Aquatic League team since the program began, she said, six or seven years ago. Her father, Larry McGinnis, is the SEALs coach.

A cyclist flew past Emily Hutteger as she counted the laps of all the competitors during the youth triathalon at Central Municipal Pool.

She finished the 300-yard swim in about 3 minutes and posted a final time in the event -- which included a 4-mile bike ride and a 1-mile run -- of 32 minutes, 49 seconds.

She finished one second ahead of Amanda Whitlow, another Jackson teen who also is a member of the SEALs.

McGinnis said she wasn't aware of the competition for the girls overall title. She was the only girl over 14 competing.

"I saw some people when I got out of the pool," McGinnis said. "I saw my brother then and I didn't see him the rest of the day."

Connor McGinnis, 13, finished in 28:54.

Grace Pehle pushed off the pool wall to swim another lap as she competed in the 8- to 10-year-old girls division Saturday.

"Sometimes when he wins, he brags," Cailin said of the sibling rivalry. "When I win, it's not that big a deal."

Cailin McGinnis, who will be a sophomore this year at Jackson, also had a top-three finish among 19-and-under competitors last year in the Steamboat Triathlon.

"I like triathlons pretty well," she said, "but I'd rather swim in a swim meet."

She will have even more opportunities to do so this year.

While she prepares for the winter season with the SEALs, McGinnis also intends to swim this winter with the first-year program at Jackson High School. The school will have a boys program in the fall and girls in the winter.

"I'm excited about it," McGinnis said. "The high school is going to practice at 5:30 in the morning at the bubble [Central Municipal Pool], and the SEALs practice in the afternoon, so I'll be able to do both. I don't think I'll get tired of it."

Mick Grace slowed to a walk as he made his way down Clark Avenue toward the end of the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Youth Triathalon.

McGinnis said she already has posted state cut times and will try to work toward a time worthy of the state finals in the 100 butterfly. "I like that event best," she said.

Even more than triathlons.

Noteworthy

• The South East Aquatic League was a co-sponsor of the 19th annual triathlon along with the Gators Swim Team and Cape Bicycle.
• The boys division was won by a member of the Gators, Sam Gramling. The Central sophomore-to-be posted a time of 23:58.
• More than 60 athletes participated in the event, which also included a team relay triathlon division, a 1-mile run and a half-mile run.