Whether it be by land, water — and even bicycle — Colorado kids are storming their way onto the national triathlon front.
For the next year, four Colorado kids have earned the honor to be recognized as the nation’s top triathletes for their age.
They also can add the title as winners of The Denver Post Youth Excellence in Sports award for October.
At the IronKids national championships Oct. 3 in St. Petersburg, Fla., Colorado was well represented at the top of the podium as Courtney Die- mar of Eagle, Avery Turney of Littleton, Fiona Dretzka of Northglenn and Eli Hemming of Kiowa were crowned champions for their respective age divisions.
The youngest of Colorado’s national champions, 6-year- old Courtney finished the course for 6- to 8-year-olds — a 50-yard swim, a 2-mile bike ride and a 500-yard run — in 14 minutes, 38 seconds.
The intermediate group (9-11) must swim 150 yards, bike 4 miles and run 1 mile. The senior group (12-15) must double the lengths of the intermediate division’s race.
Why are so many Colorado triathletes finishing on top?
Courtney’s mother, Jody Diemar, said she believes Colorado kids are successful because their training is just another day outside.
“This is the lifestyle of this area,” Jody said. “All the kids are doing it (being active), and the kids are doing it because all the parents are doing it. They don’t know anything different.
“Most of the kids do summer swim team, and we ride our bikes everywhere.”
Courtney’s success isn’t surprising because her family has been involved with IronKids triathlons since its inception in 1985, when Courtney’s uncle, Nick Radkewich, defeated a young Lance Armstrong to win a national championship at age 14.
Courtney, a first-grader at Brush Creek Elementary in Eagle, had an upbringing that familiarized her to the triathlon lifestyle, with both parents involved in the sport.
But for Avery, the roots of her success grew from her love for racing her bike to the neighborhood swimming pool to pedaling for the thrill of competing — and winning.
“I like racing against people and mostly riding the bike,” said the 7-year-old from Shaffer Elementary in Littleton. “I like that it is three sports that I do individually. I also like traveling. . . . It is like a vacation.”
Avery’s 13:03 finish shaved more than three minutes from her 2009 national championship time while competing in the 6-year-old division in Tucson.
“With each and every one, she gets more excited for them,” Matt Turney said of his daughter. “She has nerves of steel.”
For Avery, it’s not about the trophies, but rather the feeling of that moment atop the podium.
“My throat and my bones were tired,” Avery said, “but I felt really proud. I worked really hard.”
Added Matt Turney: “It is part of the culture in Colorado. Kids here spend a lot of time outdoors and when they play, they play hard.”
Honorable mention
Reece Mettler
For some kids, the inability to play football might leave a hole in the heart. For Reece, a hole in his heart nearly prevented him from playing the game he loves. But, after undergoing surgery for an atrial septal defect in July, the sixth-grader from Hudson Elementary was cleared to play in September and joined his buddies as a center and defensive end on the Lil’ Rebels, who nearly recorded their fourth consecutive undefeated season before falling 25-6 to Kersey in the season finale Oct. 30.
Collin Hudson
The Sunset Middle School student, the reigning world BMX champion among 13-year-olds, won the 13 cruiser and 13 expert titles at the American Bicycle Association’s Disney Cup in Orlando, Fla., from Oct. 22-24.
Know a top athlete?
Youth Excellence in Sports honors those 17 or younger who have excelled in any athletic endeavor unaffiliated with the Colorado High School Activities Association. To submit your choice for the top individual or team achievement that occurred during November, visit for an online form. Pictures of the monthly winners go on display at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame at Invesco Field.
