Amelia Ward
Staff Writer
On Aug. 28, Mira Costa sophomore, Seamus O’Neill, took first place at the 2022 Santa Barbara Sprint Triathlon. Competitors participated in a series of swimming, cycling, and running, as they competed for fastest overall time among their divisions.
“When I’m in the moment, I just try to picture pushing myself further and trying to accomplish something I can be proud of,” O’Neill said. “Regardless of how difficult it is, picturing myself at the finish line always helps.”
The participants kickstarted on Santa Barbara’s East Beach with a 500-yard ocean swim. According to O’Neill, the swim had relatively unpredictable weather conditions.
“Right after the swim, we started the 6 mile cycle,” O’Neill said. “It was pretty flat but had a few hills. The hard part was dealing with cars and traffic, since it was an open course.”
Following this, they started their 2 mile sprint to the finish line. According to O’Neill, the course had ups and downs, providing difficult terrain. When competitors reached the end, they were congratulated by friends and family, according to O’Neill.
“I finished the full course in 45 minutes and 19 seconds,” O’Neill said. “My favorite part was seeing my family supporting me in the crowd.”
O’Neill aspires to continue his training, hoping to one day compete in an Ironman Triathlon, a triathlon consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.22 mile run. This competition takes place all over the nation.
“I found my love for the sport through watching local competitions, and spending lots of time at the beach,” O’Neill said. “I credit my swimming skills and endurance to my experience in water polo, surfing, and other beach sports.”
O’Neill is also a member of Mammoth Mountain’s Snowboarding Team. He regularly surfs in Manhattan Beach, plays water polo on Mira Costa’s JV team, BMX bikes, skateboards, scooters, and wakeboards on Big Bear Lake.
“At my first triathlon, I felt more adrenaline and excitement than ever before,’ O’Neill said. “I used that as fuel, along with all the people cheering me on. It was really exciting to try something new and realize how much I liked it.”
O’Neill continues to share his excitement for his future competitions and events with his peers and family on social media. You can track O’Neill’s sports journey through his instagram handle, @soneill310, where he posts regular highlights and updates.
“I had never thought about combining the three sports into one big one, but after watching local triathlons I knew it was something I wanted to try.” O’Neill said. “I look forward to future triathlons and continuing my sports journey.”
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