Four years ago, Ryan Brown of Richland was visiting Whidbey Island for a friendly pick-up baseball game.

Since it just happened to be Race the Rock weekend, he decided to give it a go — and he’s been competing ever since.

“This is my fifth race and I keep coming back because the venue is so pretty and the race is so well organized,” he said before accepting the trophy for his first-place win. “A little hot today, but nice.”

Brown’s overall time was 1 hour, 29 minutes, 01 seconds.

Jessica Utter of Oak Harbor was the first woman across the finishline at 1:40:23.4.

The race started at Goss Lake for a half-mile swim, followed by a 19.5-mile bike ride through Langley to the South Whidbey Community Park, where competitors finished with a 3.8-mile run through the woods.

Riders were visibly relieved as they crested the hill on Saratoga Road at Archwood Drive for the long coast into Langley.

Though South Whidbey runners, bikers and swimmers only fielded 33 out of 147 entrants in the tenth annual Race the Rock triathlon, they did very well, placing third in both men’s and women’s categories.

Perennial race favorite Peter Oakley of Langley took third overall (1:30:28.2).

He led Ryan out of the water and on his bike in the first lap until just before Lone Lake.

“He caught me and just kept on going,” Oakley said. “We were neck-and-neck on the run but he was just a little faster today.”

Jeff Beltramini of Anacortes snuck in for second place at 1:30:28.2.

For the women, Stacia MccInnes of Bellevue took second (1:42:55.6) and Langley’s Challis Stringer was third at 1:43:14.1.

Oakley and Curt Gordon of Freeland both ran in the first triathlon 10 years ago.

“I had a much better race today than I thought I would,” Gordon said. “I was supposed to have a little moral support from my daughter (South Whidbey High senior) Katy but her back hurt and she cheered me all the way from the sidelines.”

Goss Lake was a late substitution for this year’s Race the Rock. The health department closed down Lone Lake for swimmers due to a blue-green algal bloom, and organizers shifted the swimming portion of the triathlon.

This was McInnes’ eighth Race the Rock. The second-place finisher said the road portion of the race took a toll.

“The swim was great and I didn’t have any problems until the run. I know the course but my legs started to hurt. Really hurt. But I’ll be back; same time, next year,” she said.

Gordon cited the Goss Lake community, county and sheriff volunteers, and Parks and Recreation for doing a great organizing job, especially with the last-minute lake switch.

“Lots of support from everyone makes this race a uniquely Whidbey event,” he added.

Three of those volunteers were Erica Johnson, Gwen Bakke and Dale Chrismas who removed the electronic timer from each finisher’s ankle — carefully, wearing protective latex gloves.

As owner of Perfect Time Events, Denika Voget travels to races all over the state to make sure times are accurate. “This is one of those fun, grassroots events that are as well run as can be expected,” she said.

Jerry Wojtech, the race organizer for the South Whidbey Park and Recreation District event, felt the day went extremely well.

“I’d have to say it was the volunteers who made the difference. Barring unforeseen problems, we’ll be back at Lone Lake for the eleventh running next year,” Wojtech said.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or e-mail sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.